Attachments
A total of 10,851 individuals (2,922 families) had cumulatively been repatriated since the first phase of the voluntary repatriation programme from Mantapala settlement started in December 2021 all the way to January 2023.
During the month of May, a total of 8495 (M:3,617; F:4,788) individuals accessed the health services in the three settlements compared to 6,283 patients seen the previous month.
Children under five comprised 20% (1,706) of the total attendance compared to 1,343 seen the previous reporting period. . 26 cases comprising 120 individuals were submitted to the USA, Finland, Australia & Canada for resettlement. Overall, 140 cases/563 individuals have been submitted for resettlement consideration.
Operational Context
The Government of Zambia, through the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security (MHAIS) leads and coordinates the refugee response in line with its commitments under the Global Compact on Refugees (CCR) and the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF). The 2017 Refugees Act constitutes the main legal framework governing refugee matters in Zambia. The Office of the Commissioner for Refugees under MHAIS leads the implementation of the Act and is the main government interlocutor on refugee matters.
Within the UN system, UNHCR is the lead agency on refugee matters. The agency provides protection and assistance to refugees across various sectors and in collaboration with other UN agencies and stakeholders. The response to the arrival of asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is coordinated by an Inter-Ministerial Committee composed of key line ministries, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and UNHCR. The Ministry of Home Affairs chairs the Committee.
WORKING WITH PARTNERS
In line with the Global Compact on Refugees and the Sustainable Development Goals, UNHCR works closely with the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Resident Coordinator’s Office in mobilizing, building partnerships and collaborating with other line ministries, UN agencies and stakeholders in responding to and meeting the needs of refugees.
The coordination and management of refugee settlements is led by the Government through the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees and in line with the Refugee Coordination Model. UNHCR supports the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees and works in partnership with the United Nations Country Team development partners, NGOs, faith-based organisations, the private sector and academia.
KEY INDICATORS
22,459 persons UNHCR cares for have cumulatively been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 since March 2022.
4,998 persons UNHCR cares for of concern have been registered between January and end of May 2023.
18,000 are enrolled in schools across the three refugee settlements in Zambia, with 13% being from the host community.
MAIN ACTIVITIES
UNHCR and partners support the Government to provide legal and community-based protection and social support. These activities reach 18,111 persons of concern in Lusaka, 38,369 people in Meheba refugee settlement and 22,572 people in Mayukwayukwa refugee settlement, in the North-Western and Western Provinces, respectively. A further 7,496 people in Mantapala settlement in Luapula Province are supported.