CONFIDENTIAL
2 Needs of Refugees
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The UNHCR together with the Zambian officials visit a new refugee influx and give priority to protection work to determine the status of the refugees. UNHCR also call upon consultants from Geneva to assess what should be done about a new settlement. The latest example is handling the Mozambique refugees from Tete Province. UNHCR then almost simultaneously try to encourage the interest of NGOs to see what can be done to help.
The refugees speak for themselves through their chiefs, headmen or elected committees. Sometimes they voice their views very strongly either direct to the UNHCR or to the Zambian Government or to the newspapers. Recently some complained publicly about starvation rations at Maheba Camp.
UNHCR have no field officers situated outside Lusaka but visit as the need arises and enlist the help of NGOs.
Yes.
GRZ are however co-signatories of refugee projects along with UNHCR and the agencies.
Yes. Would do so and UNHCR are willing to liaise with other sponsors and with Zambian Government departments eg the Department of Technical Education and Vocational Training.
3
Assistance Programmes
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Yes, of course things can be improved but the most important step would be quicker decision taking by GRZ about the status of refugees eg those from Angola.
On the whole yes, but refugees have different views about their rations and socio-cultural problems can cause difficulties.
Yes. There are allegations that aid is mis-appropriated but the NGOs are expert at keeping their eyes open. Local authorities often complain about the assistance programmes because they deny them patronage and therefore scope for corruption.
Reducing the dependency syndrome is regarded as a top priority but a lot depends upon the rapidity with which GRZ takes decisions about the future of the refugees. They are dragging their heels over the Angolans. UNHCR stressed the need for self-sufficiency and income generating projects. These are easier to find - paradoxically in the rural areas - but are more difficult to find in Lusaka among the urban refugees.
CONFIDENTIAL
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