Dundo – The Angolan government has said it will continue to provide the necessary support to refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) settled since 2017 in the Lóvua camp, eastern Lunda Norte Province, with actions aimed for their socio-economic reintegration.
This assurance was given on Tuesday by the deputy governor for social, political and economic matters of Lunda Norte, Frederico Barroso, while speaking at the presentation of the Peace Consolidation Fund, a project financed by the United Nations for the effective management of migration flows and border protection.
The official reiterated that the Angolan government, in coordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will continue to welcome those who due to insecurity or political and ethnic conflicts in their country seek shelter in Angola.
The Angolan politician praised the implementation of the fund that will contribute to improve the management of migratory flows, actions of socio-economic reintegration and protection of refugees' rights, among other actions.
To Frederico Barroso, the protection of those seeking safety in other countries, due to conflicts, should not be a procrastinated commitment by the States, and Angola is no exception to the rule.
Support
The UNHCR has been working with the National Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (INEFOP), Offices of Social Action, Family and Women's Promotion (MASFAMU), Education, Health, Justice and Human Rights, in the socio-economic reintegration of the DRC refugees.
The partnership has allowed a group of refugees to regularly benefit from training on agricultural production techniques and other specialties to promote their economic empowerment.
The actions undertaken with the Education Ministry and MASFAMU are focused on the emancipation of women, prevention of early pregnancy, gender violence, inclusion in the normal system of free education and literacy.
Children that are born in the Angolan territory, besides access to education, benefit from free birth registration, in a joint effort with the provincial delegation of Justice and Human Rights.
The goal of this partnership, which has lasted since 2017, is to integrate refugees into an economic empowerment strategy to support their entrepreneurship initiatives, access to a bank account and develop their economic initiatives, no longer depending only on humanitarian assistance.
In relation to Health, the Evangelical Church of the Brethren in Angola (IEIA) is developing a medical assistance programme for refugees, where in early October, a medical survey was made in the camp, and more than 100 refugees were selected, in a first phase, to undergo complex surgical interventions.
In May 2017 an initial group of 35,000 DRC citizens arrived in Angola’s north-eastern Lunda Norte, fleeing acts of violence in the Kassai area, a crisis that led to the declaration of an emergency situation.
There are currently 6,300 refugees from DRC in Lóvua refugees camp.
