By CHUSA SICHONE –
THE number of asylum seekers fleeing from unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and being hosted at the Kenani transit centre in Luapula Province has increased by 1,000 within a space of one week.
This brings the total number as at Monday to 11,080 registered Congolese refugees at Kenani transit centre since they started entering Zambia in August this year from 10,065 in December 11, 2017.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Zambia public information associate Kelvin Shimo, who confirmed the development in an interview yesterday, said the number of Congolese refugees was likely to exceed 11,080 because registration was ongoing.
“The cumulative figure has now reached 11,080 as of yesterday, December 18, 2017. Registration is continuing,” Mr Shimo said.
Mr Shimo said compilation of those registered was usually done at 22:00 hours every day and so he was likely to have latest statistics after that time as the Congolese asylum seekers had continued trooping into Zambia.
Mr Shimo said also that the Government, in collaboration with the UNHCR and other partners, was conducting a hydrological survey on the newly-allocated permanent refugee settlement called Mantapala situated within Nchelenge District.
The Nchelenge District administration agreed to expand the Kenani transit centre by providing more space which would accommodate an additional 1000 refugee families or 5000 individuals once it was operational.