UNHCR Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa visits Zambia

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UNHCR Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa visits Zambia

UNHCR Zambia, 10 Aug 2022

28-05-2022
UNHCR Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa concludes visit to Zambia where he emphasized the need for streamlining documentation for refugees
UNHCR - UN Refugee Agency - Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey, has concluded his three-day official visit to Zambia.
The UNHCR Special Envoy, who arrived on Wednesday 25 May 2022, held consultative meetings with senior Government officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps, UN agencies and met with Somali refugees. The Ambassador came to understand some of the challenges refugees face through conversing with the refugees themselves and Government to explore ways of jointly addressing them.
“I was here to show solidarity and appeal to the international community to rally behind the people and Government of Zambia and provide them with a meaningful support for their hospitality in hosting refugees. I hope that the challenges the refugees face in relation to documentation and inclusion would be prioritized by the Government of Zambia who can rely on UNHCR’s full support. UNHCR appreciates and recognizes the hospitality of the Government of Zambia in hosting refugees and providing them a safe home,” said Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey.
Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey’s visit to Zambia came at a crucial time when the Government of Zambia and UNHCR are implementing the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), at the same time vigorously pursuing the program of local integration for some former refugees who are seeking to remain in Zambia, given their long stay in the country and the ties which have been forged.
“I am impressed with the generosity of the Government of Zambia, and I advocate for their continuous support to fast-track and enhance their inclusion policy to encompass all refugees who have been in Zambia for many years and known Zambia as their only home. Streamlining the documentation for refugees is an urgent need which UNHCR is committed to work hand-in-hand with the Government to address,” explained the UNHCR Special Envoy.
UNHCR appointed Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey as the Special Envoy for the Somali Refugee situation in 2016, and then in 2018 his role was expanded to cover the Horn of Africa.
As the Special Envoy for the Somali Refugee situation, Ambassador Affey worked closely with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), to develop and implement the Nairobi Declaration and Plan of Action. The mission of IGAD is to assist and complement the efforts of the member States to achieve, through increased cooperation: food security and environmental protection, peace and security, and economic cooperation and integration in the region.
As Special Envoy, Ambassador Affey’s role includes advocating for continued international protection and increased inclusion of refugees in the countries they reside in, as well as for more global investment in the region.
UNHCR Representative to Zambia, Ms Pierrine Aylara, has described the UNHCR Special Envoy’s visit as an opportunity that highlighted the increasing humanitarian needs of refugees in Zambia, especially Somalis. The visit helped mobilize urgent support from key stakeholders to find durable solutions. The humanitarian needs, among other things, include issues of documentation and permits, freedom of movement as well as local integration.
Zambia currently hosts 107, 354 persons of concern, including 4,202 Somalis hosted in the three refugee settlements and urban areas.
Background information:
The Global Compact on Refugees is a framework for more predictable and equitable responsibility-sharing, recognizing that a sustainable solution to refugee situations cannot be achieved without international cooperation. It provides a blueprint for governments, international organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that host communities get the support they need and that refugees can lead productive lives. It constitutes a unique opportunity to transform the way the world responds to refugee situations, benefiting both refugees and the communities that host them.
The CRRF was adopted in 2016 by 193 countries under the New York Declaration. It t contains historic and wide-ranging commitments that reaffirm the commitment by Member States to respect the human rights of refugees and migrants and to support the countries that welcome them. In his role as Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Ambassador Affey will also look at various protection issues affecting refugees and other persons of concern, particularly related to durable solutions of Angolans, Rwandans as well as Somalis. During his visit, he will be meeting with senior government officials, UN country Team, ambassadors and Somali refugees – who have a number of protection issues that need to be resolved.