Angola
Angolan refugees stuck on DRC border

afrol.com, 8 November  - Fuel shortage in Congo Kinshasa (DRC) continues to thwart efforts to transport aid from the capital Kinshasa to Angolan refugees arriving in the southern Bandundu province, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Kris Janowski yesterday informed. 18,000 refugees are waiting to cross the border. 

The planned deployment on Saturday of three additional UNHCR staff had to be postponed because of the lack of aircraft fuel. The UN agency is hoping that an aircraft bringing staff, aid supplies and desperately needed diesel fuel for field vehicles will be able to fly to the town of Kahemba yesterday or today (Wednesday). 

To date, several thousand out of an estimated 18,000 people waiting to cross from Angola to DRC have reportedly crossed the border. They are currently scattered in DRC villages along the border but none have moved on to the established camps which already house 10,000 refugees from earliers stages of the conflict in Angola. 

This worries the local authorities who prefer that the refugees, who may include sympathisers or even former fighters of Angola’s UNITA rebel movement, be housed in official camp sites. Last week, the DRC Government had allowed the refugees to enter the country, but only after careful scanning for possible weapons.

Local officials have told the UNHCR that they would help in disarming possible members of the UNITA rebel movement who may be present among the refugees. Experiences from neighbouring Zambia, hosting 180,000 Angolan refugees, show that the recent military successes by Angolan Government forces have led many UNITA rebels and officers to flee. These armed personnel often carry their weapons across the borders. 

Aid for refugees
Meanwhile, 3 trucks with aid reached Kahemba at the weekend and will return to Kinshasa shortly to pick up more aid, UNHCR spokesman Kris Janowski yesterday informed. "Four more trucks will leave as soon as more diesel fuel is available," he added. This fleet can ferry supplies for up to 15,000 refugees.

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. Refugee numbers increased dramatically in that country after the intense fighting between UNITA and government forces in Angola's northern provinces, where the Angolan Government claims to have recaptured vast areas. The refugees are heavily dependent on aid provided by the UN agency.

Source: Based on UNHCR & Angolan Government

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