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afrol.com, 4 November - Tens of thousands of Angolan fleeing the intensified fighting are waiting at the border of Congo Kinshasa (DRC). They will now be allowed to enter the country, after being scanned for possible weapons. The Congolese authorities have told the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that an estimated 18,000 Angolans are fleeing intensified fighting in Angola’s Lunda Norte province will be allowed to cross into Kahemba in the DRC. Kahemba already hosts 10,000 Angolans who had fled during earlier stages of the conflict. Some refugees are reported to have crossed in the past few days, but there are no firm estimates on numbers, UNHCR spokesman Kris Janowski yesterday told the press. The rest of the group has been waiting for several days on the Angolan side of the border, waiting to cross. Local officials told UNHCR they would help in disarming possible members of the UNITA rebel movement who may be present among the refugees. The Angolan Government recently reported that it has had substantial military victories in the area. The Angolan border with the DRC was shored up by the Angolan Army's recapture of Quimbele in northern Uige province on September 17. With the loss of Quimbele, UNITA lost access to a key airbase that had been supplying his troops throughout the northeastern part of the country since 1994. The operation successfully restored Government control over a vast stretch of territory on the Angola-DRC border, cutting off land supply lines as well as the air link. New area of influx - UNHCR is trying to bring relief supplies to the area, braving fuel shortages and huge logistical difficulties, spokesman Kris Janowski said. "Two large trucks with supplies are already on their way to Kahemba and three more will be sent by the end of this week." The DRC already hosts 170,000 Angolan refugees who fled during earlier stages of Angola’s civil war. If the new influx continues, the figure will quickly exceed 200,000. Intensifying fighting in Angola recently also drove thousands of Angolans into Zambia, which hosts 180,000 Angolans. Refugee numbers increased dramatically in that country after the intense fighting between UNITA and government forces in the eastern Moxico province. Source: Based on UNHCR & Angolan Government
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