More refugees flee DRC war

The Lusaka office of the UNHCR said that another 1,000 to 2,000 refugees crossed into Zambia through the Kalanda border post over the weekend.

A UNHCR representative in Zambia told IRIN today (Wednesday) that this figure is in addition to the 5,000 other refugees who have entered Zambia’s northern province since 5 March. “We estimate that the ongoing influx may swell to 10,000 people over the next few days should the military clashes around the Congolese towns of Pweto and Pepa continue,” the representative said.

The representative added that the refugees are presently receiving assistance in Kaputa and surrounding areas: “According to reports from our field officers, the refugees are in a reasonable condition and their health situation is considered satisfactory.”

Various transit facilities have been established in Kaputa and in villages along the Kalanda-Sumbu road, the representative told IRIN. “We are planning to move the refugees shortly to a camp site in Mporokoso, some 200 kms further inland from the border town of Kaputa.”

In the meantime, the representative said the estimated 800 DRC soldiers and policemen among the latest arrivals have been disarmed by the Zambian authorities and separated from the civilian refugees. “We have been informed that the leaders of this group have requested the Zambian government to facilitate their return to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).”

About 400 Congolese refugees had entered Zambia between September last year and February this year following the outbreak of the war in the DRC last August. The UNHCR representative said this group had been transferred to the Meheba refugee settlement. However, the latest influx cannot be accommodated in Meheba and other established settlements, thus the planned move to accommodate them in Mporokoso.