The voluntary repatriation of Angolan refugees to their country of origin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has resumed after a two-year break.
The programme was suspended in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in lengthy border restrictions.
“This morning, the first convoy of 88 Congolese refugees left the Lôvua camp in northern Angola and headed for the DRC border.
At the regularly scheduled media briefing on Tuesday morning in Geneva, UNHCR spokesperson Boris Cheshirkov stated that the convoy was expected to arrive in the DRC tomorrow.
Around 7,000 refugees are housed in the Lôvua camp in Angola. Since escaping political and ethnic violence in the unrest-ridden Kasai area of the DRC in 2017, many people have not seen their relatives.
At the time, more than 35,000 individuals crossed the border into Angola in search of protection.
Mr. Cheshirkov was comforting about the situation in other parts of the country despite the pervasive insecurity and escalation of the armed conflict in eastern DRC, which has led to the internal displacement of 5.9 million people: “Although conflict continues in eastern DRC, improvements in security in the west have re-opened the possibility for Congolese to return to their country in dignity and safety.”
Cash assistance
Refugees are given cash aid when they arrive in the DRC to help with basic expenses including toiletries, household goods, and first rent support.
Additional assistance is also given to aid in the integration of the resettled populations, such as by providing the necessary papers to support youngsters returning to school.
Meanwhile, the UNHCR spokeswoman emphasised that the organisation will “always continue to push for the full support in basic services to be offered by the Government, by the authorities, to people going back, especially when it comes to insecurity, so they may reconstruct their life.”
dropping returns
Over 600 Congolese refugees have already said they want to go back. With the program’s restart, more people are likely to express interest.
About 57,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Angola get assistance from UNHCR, primarily in metropolitan areas.
“Operation has received only $10.3 million of the $29.8 million it requires this year, leaving a huge deficit in providing for the fundamental requirements of the refugees and asylum seekers.
Additionally, just 19% of the $225 million needed to meet the mounting needs of the displaced persons in the DRC has been received by UNHCR there.
Around the world, 430,000 people were allowed to return home last year in safety and dignity, an increase of 71% from the year before.
South Sudan received over two thirds of all refugee returns. That figure only accounts for 2% of all refugees worldwide.