By HOPE BWALYA? –
MOST vulnerable children migrating into Zambia are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a study commissioned by the United Nations Refugee Agency, International Organisation for Migration and UNICEF has revealed.
The majority of the children intended to settle in Zambia, while the remainder travelled with their parents and did not know where they would end up settling.
According to a statement released by the UNHCR, the survey showed that most of the migrants entered Zambia through the northern and north-western border districts including Mpulungu, Kaputa, Mporokoso, Kasumbalesa, Nakonde and Mwinilunga.
The study, whose report was unveiled recently, also showed that most irregular migrants, particularly from the DRC, usually boarded ships heading to Mpulungu while sometimes they passed through Tanzania.
Most of the migrant children are accompanied, with more than two per cent found unaccompanied.
The study, funded by the European Union, which was conducted under a joint programme dubbed “Thematic Programme on Migration and Asylum”, was aimed at giving support to Zambia to mitigate the vulnerability and increase protection of children at high risk of trafficking and?exploitation due to migration.
It was also meant to guide the UN project partners to support Zambia and non-state actors in key areas of service delivery and training and also contribute to targeted actions and dialogue on policy and practices aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable children.
It provided recommendations to enhance registration, assessment, referral and provision of protective services and support required for upgrading of immigration systems for data collection and management in border areas.