UNHCR distributed core relief items to 12,560 CAR refugees and vulnerable host community members in Nzakara and Limasa, North Ubangi.

UNHCR and the CNR officially launched the biometric enrollment of vulnerable people in Tshikapa, Kasai Province.

On 22 October, UNHCR relaunched the voluntary repatriation of CAR refugees in the DRC. 768 CAR refugees were repatriated from Mole camp (South Ubangi) to Bangui as of 31st October.

UNHCR and partners facilitated the voluntary repatriation of 391 Burundian and Rwandan refugees to their country of origin.

Most Refugees Live in Cities, Not Camps. Our Response Needs to Shift: For refugees, urban areas offer economic opportunity, the promise of self-reliance, and the ability to exercise choice as to where and how to live. However far less investment goes towards supporting urban refugees than those in camps. The international community has been slow to understand the different needs of urban- and camp-based displaced people. Despite commitments in the 2018 Global Compact for Refugees, few donors directly support city authorities and urban communities that host refugees. The upcoming High Level Officials Meeting is a new opportunity to mobilize additional investments. There is also a need to increase understanding of urban refugees’ needs – CGD and IRC with support from the IKEA Foundation are partnering on a five-year long initiative (Re:Build) in Kampala and Nairobi to fill this gap and develop livelihood opportunities for refugees. https://www.cgdev.org/blog/most-refugees-live-cities-not-camps-our-response-needs-shift

During the month of September 2021, a total of 626 new refugees were registered, bringing the number of People of Concern (PoCs) hosted by Zambia to 102,32 (72,075 Refugees, 5,479 asylum-seekers and 24,774 others of concern) as of 30 September 2021.

In terms of durable solutions, UNHCR submitted 163 cases comprising 624 refugees for resettlement consideration. Some 119 cases consisting of 401 individuals travelled to resettlement countries.

Some 131 business holders in Lusaka and the three refugee settlements directly benefited from Cash-based Intervention (CBI) for livelihoods amounting to US$ 58,211.09.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomed the generous contribution of EUR 1.5 million from the Government of Finland on 7 October 2021, in support of Afghan refugees in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Finland’s contribution will help UNHCR pre-position Core Relief Items, hygiene kits and tents along border areas, to help Afghans who are recently fleeing conflict and discrimination in their country. In 2021 alone, UNHCR is directly aware of some 18,000 Afghans who newly arrived in Iran using irregular routes, although the total number that have entered the country is likely to be significantly higher. Since the beginning of the year, over 660,000 persons were newly displaced within Afghanistan itself.

Co-Impact Gender Fund grant applications are open! At the Generation Equality Forum in June 2021 Co-Impact announced the development of their second fund – the Gender Fund. This Fund commits to raise and grant US $1 billion over the next decade to advance gender equality and women’s leadership in the Global South. They are now inviting applicants to submit concept notes for the first round of grants made through this Fund. Their open call for applications will be running from 30 September until 20 December 2021. Please visit their webpage to learn more and to get guidance on concept note submission. https://www.co-impact.org/gender-fund-how-to-apply/