Dundo - The Japanese government intends to finance the construction of drinking water supply projects in the Lóvua refugee camp, in the north-eastern province of Lunda-Norte, the third secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Angola, Yuta Kimoto, informed Tuesday.
Speaking at the end of the audience granted to him by the governor of Lunda-Norte, Filomena Miza, the Japanese diplomat highlighted that he is in that province to carry out an economic feasibility study, so that in the future his government can finance the construction of projects that aim to increase access to water projected in the countryside and in the surrounding communities.
He said that in partnership with the Angolan government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), his country has been supporting projects linked to the Education, Health and Agriculture sectors.
Without revealing the amount made available by his government for this purpose, Yuta Kimoto reiterated his country's commitment to continue working with the Angolan government on the social and economic reintegration of the displaced.
On the other hand, he praised the efforts of the Angolan government in welcoming and protecting refugees since 2017, an act that demonstrates Angola's commitment to human rights.
In May 2017, an initial group of 35,000 citizens from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) arrived in the province of Lunda Norte, fleeing acts of violence in the Kassai area, a crisis that led to the declaration of an emergency situation.
Meanwhile, ACNUR controls more than 6,000 refugees in Lóvua camp and over 3,000 in the city of Dundo, while the rest were repatriated to their country of origin.
HD/MRA/jmc
