The United Nations agency for refugees began repatriating thousands of Congolese refugees in Zambia to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Friday.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said more than 400 refugees had been bussed from a refugee camp in northern Zambia to Lake Tanganyika, where they will be transported by ship to the DRC.
”We have so far moved 414 from the camps. They will be repatriated to DRC today [Friday],” said Kelvin Shimo, UNHCR spokesperson in Zambia.
The returnees were being taken to Kalemi, a small town in the DRC, where most of them come from, Shimo said.
He said the UN plans to repatriate at least 20Â 000 refugees who have voluntarily registered to go home following last year’s elections.
Initially, the exercise had stalled due to lack of funds.
Zambia shelters more than 60Â 000 Congolese refugees, with the majority living at Mwange camp in northern Zambia near the border with DRC. — Sapa-AFP