Roundup: UN calls for more int'l support to empower refugees in Zambia

2021-04-09 16:30:34 GMT2021-04-10 00:30:34(Beijing Time) Xinhua English

LUSAKA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Friday that more support from the international community is needed to ensure the full empowerment of refugees in Zambia.

While commending the Zambian government for efforts made in ensuring that refugees living in the country were empowered, and the support given so far, UNHCR Representative in Zambia Pierrine Aylaras said more support from the international community is required to attain full rights and attaining full empowerment and self-reliance of refugees.

"May I also take this chance to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to all the humanitarian and development actors that have supported us in this journey. I wish to also say we have not arrived yet. We still need more support from the international community to help us reach our destination," she said during a multi-stakeholder consultation meeting held virtually in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting was called to review the refugees' works done in Zambia since 2019 under the multi-partner protection and solutions strategy for 2019-2021.

It was also called to get inputs from stakeholders for the development of the second strategy to run from 2022 to 2024.

United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Zambia Coumba Gadio said the organization was committed to ensuring that refugees fully enjoyed their rights and attain self-sufficiency and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of Zambia.

The UN representative noted that the refugee situation in Zambia continues to face silent emergencies compounded by several protracted crises, adding that the living conditions in some settlements require the international community to provide basic humanitarian needs.

"This is the case because they have not yet achieved self-sufficiency. It is my sincere hope, therefore, that the resilient strategy of these consultations will build on the work done so far and move us closer to ensuring that refugees, former refugees and their Zambian hosts are empowered," she said.

Commissioner for Refugees in Zambia's Ministry of Home Affairs Abdon Mawere said the meeting was important in the harmonization of all activities aimed at improving the welfare of refugees.

"This meeting is therefore critical in providing long-term strategic direction to address challenges that Zambia faces in fulfilling its provision for international responsibilities," he said.

According to him, the implementation of the strategy would result in pushing activities for refugees and the host communities.

Zambia currently hosts about 97,000 refugees, asylum seekers, former refugees and stateless persons. Enditem

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