ReliefWeb

The Disaster
The recent escalation of the conflict and increased insecurity in Angola has resulted in the influx of over 17,600 Angolan refugees to Zambia in late December. The entry points for Angolan refugees in Zambia are Chavuma, Mwinilunga, Zambezi, Kabompo and Kalabo.

Red Cross/Red Crescent Action

The Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS) is assisting in registering refugees at border crossing points pending the transfer of the refugees to transit camps by UNHCR, which is expected to take about two to three weeks.

Since March 1999, the Federation has been supporting the ZRCS in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) refugee assistance operation. The ZRCS has limited supplies in terms of food, shelter, water and sanitation, and health to assist the refugees in the north-western and western provinces. However, based on the positive Red Cross performance in the Mporokosso refugee operation, UNHCR has indicated a desire to collaborate with the ZRCS in this new operation.

An allocation of CHF 50,000 from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) has been released in order to support the operation.

Needs
A team composed of ZRCS headquarters staff and a Regional Resource Team will assess the situation and propose a plan to follow up on action to be taken. It is not yet decided whether an international appeal will be required.

Bekele Geleta
Director
Africa Department

Peter Rees-Gildea
Director
Operations Funding and Reporting Department