Dundo – At least 57, 000 refugees and asylum seekers, mostly from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), live in various regions of Angola, according to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to which the ANGOP had access this Monday.
According to UNHCR data, 17 percent entered the country in 2017 from Greater Kasai (DRC), across the borders with the Angolan province of Lunda Norte, due to the political and ethnic conflict recorded at the time in the neighbouring country.
The UNHCR adds that, in addition to DRC citizens, the group comprises Guinean, Ivorian, Mauritanian, Somali, Sudanese and Eritrean citizens, totaling 50,000 people who generally live in urban areas.
Largest migratory flow in Angola
In June 2017, Angola reported the largest migratory flow, with the entry of 31,241 DRC citizens, due to political and ethnic conflicts in that country. However, in 2018, 11,758 citizens left their country of origin on a voluntary basis.
This spontaneous movement forced the Angolan Government, in partnership with UNHCR, to create, in record time, a refugee camp in Lóvua, with basic human conditions, to welcome these citizens.
In August 2019, there was the spontaneous repatriation of 14,724 refugees, who decided to leave the Lóvua camp and return to the DRC.
This attitude led to a tripartite meeting - the Government of Angola, the DRC and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) - whose agreement allowed for a new repatriation process, through which 2,912 refugees returned to their country of origin.
This process was suspended due to the unexpected emergence of Covid-19.
Currently, there are 6,801 refugees in the Lóvua camp, of whom 1,319 are men, 1,385 women and 4,097 children.
Celebration of the event
To celebrate the World Refugee Day, on Monday (20th June), UNHCR and partners develop artistic, sporting and cultural activities, with the refugee population, training for journalists, civil society actors, debates and dissemination trends in forced displacement around the world.
For the province of Lunda Norte, there are plans for women's and men's football tournaments, between refugee and Angolan communities, which will take place in the Lóvua settlement, dance performances, theater and exhibition of toys produced by refugees.
To mark the event, on 22 June, UNHCR and partners will organize a seminar on the right to protection and the importance of journalistic coverage of the refugee issue.
Since 2001, World Refugee Day has been celebrated globally on 20 June, according to a resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly.
For UNHCR, the date is an opportunity to honor the courage, resilience and strength of all women, men and children forced to leave their homes due to war, armed conflict and persecution.
