139. The problems faced by UNHCR have been immense. Concern for protection matters necessitated reinforcement of the field staff, and the domestic economic situation and the lack of internal communications created severe difficulties. Shaba Province is far inland from the ports and Kinshasa, and the limited quantities of staple food that were available could only be purchased at exorbitant prices. Nevertheless, some purchases had to be made locally because of the inevitable delay in the arrival of food fron outside the country. UNHCR was forced to resort to air transportation of certain supplies from Europe and from other countries in Africa, as well as of medical supplies needed for the treatment of the great number of people arriving at the border weak and sick.
140. Assistance towards reintegration was prepared both for individuals and for the villages and institutions where the repatrionts resettled. Medicaments were provided, and, by arrangement with "Médecins sans frontières" and "Hôpital sans frontières", medical teams and a 50-bed nobilo hospital were obtained.
141. Construction materials have been provided in 1979, as have domestic and agricultural equipment, and, becuase of the delay in the procurement of seeds, feeding programmes have continued, with needs in this sector partially satisfied by WFP.
Zambia
142. The flow of refugees, predominantly Zimbabweans, into Zambia continued steadily during 1978. By the end of the year the total caseload numbered some 80,000, comprising about 45,300 Zimbabweans, 26,000 Angolans, some 5,500 Namibians, and smaller groups from other countries, including South Africans and Zairians.
Work
143. The population of the rural settlement at Meheba, the only UNHCR-assisted settlement in Zambia, which is administered under a tripartite agreement with the Government and the Lutheran World Federation/Zambian Christian Refugee Service, decreased by some 2,700 persons, to under 10,000 inhabitants, mainly Angolans, by the end of 1978. New arrivals were outnumbered by the voluntary repatriation of sone 3,000 Angolans and 45 Zairians. In the period under review extensions and improvements were made to the infrastructure and to the agricultural programme. on the infrastructure improvements was nearing completion by the end of the first quarter of 1979. The main self-sufficiency projects, including the poultry, fish and rabbit farms and the carpentry workshops progressed in 1978, which also saw the consolidation of the baking, sewing and milling co-operatives and the home craft and child-care courses organized for the women. In addition, a farmers' co-operative was established to sell produce and to buy seeds, fertilizers and insecticides, and possibly equipment which could be hired by members.
144. Because of various delays, the sowing of the crop to be harvested in the 1978/79 season was late, and therefore the harvest may be low. In mid-1978 WFP evaluation experts confirmed that most refugees had not reached a satisfactory level of self-sufficiency in food production and recommended the continuation of WFP assistance for some 4,500 persons until 30 June 1980. They also suggested the extension of supplementary feeding to some 2,000 schoolchildren, children under the age of five and expectant and nursing mothers.
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