This report was issued by the Regional Office for Southern Africa. It covers the period from 23 October to 13 November 2009. The next report will be issued within the next two-three weeks.
I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES
Angola
- The estimated number of Angolan nationals expelled from DRC has reached 51,508, according to the Angolan Ministry of Social Affairs and Reintegration (MINARS) as of end October 2009. Of these, the Government and UNHCR estimate two thirds of returnees are refugees.
- As of 8 November, an estimated 30,482 returnees have been transported by the Government to their areas of origin. So far, due to the speedy resettlement process, three out four reception centres have already been closed in Zaire province. For those who do not have a final destination, the Government is setting up camps.
- A UNHCR team deployed to Zaire province since 5 November has not been given regular access to the various returnee sites, with exception of three transit centres (Kiowa, Fazenda Mama Rosa and Kacilha). Consequently, the team has not been able to assist with registration procedures as planned.
- On 30 October, UNHCR airlifted 2,250 tents, 5,000 sleeping mats, 4,000 blankets and a temporary warehouse from the UNHCR regional stockpile in South Africa to Angola.
- Access to the reception centres in Uige province located mainly in the northern part of the province has been difficult due to bad roads.
- The Angolan Government has requested the re-activation of tripartite mechanism between the governments of DRC and Angola and UNHCR to organise the repatriation of the remaining, estimated 60,000 Angolan refugees still in DRC. In addition the Angolan government intends to further resume the repatriation of the Angolans still in Zambia (25,000), Namibia (6,000) and the Republic of Congo (2,000).
Democratic Republic of Congo
- The number of DRC nationals expelled from Angola has significantly subsided in Kasais, Bandundu and Bas-Congo provinces. As of 4 November 2009, estimates remain unchanged from last report, with approximately 160,000 DRC nationals expelled from Angola since December 2008.
