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.

Operational UPDATE July 2021 Highlights A total of 38 beneficiaries (8 Zambians, 23 refugees and 7 former refugees) in Meheba refugee settlement received training in Systems of Rice Intensification. A total of 13,332 refugees received non-medical face masks in the three refugee settlements during the month of July. 107 urban residency permits (white cards) were issued on the following grounds: family unity 66, medical 16, investor’s permit 4, employment permit 13 and security permit 8. KEY INDICATORS 767 448 newly arrived asylum-seekers, 136 in-situ and 183 births were registered in July 2021. 16,011 Total of refugees and asylum-seekers reached with COVID-19 related messaging since March 2020? 49,852 Refugees and others of concern country-wide have so far received non-medical face masks since the COVID-19 pandemic was first recorded in March 2020.

Over a period of three weeks, from 21 December 2021, a total of 300 Congolese were repatriated from Zambia’s Mantapala settlement IN Luapula Province to Pweto, Haute Kantanga, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The 300 were repatriated in weekly convoys of 100 individuals.

President's Annual Greeting Ceremony with Diplomats: Zambia’s President, His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu, today held the Annual Greeting Ceremony with diplomats accredited to Zambia at State House in Lusaka. The UNHCR Representative, Ms Pierrine aylara, was in attendance. The President mentioned a number of things/initiatives embarked upon by his Government last year, and outlined some of his Government’s vision for 2018, with regard to enhancing economic and foreign relations. During his presentation, the President committed a good portion of it talking about refugees and the need for the international community to support the refugee cause, especially the Congolese emergency.

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.

Some 257 women and youth owned businesses from Lusaka, Meheba, Mayukwayukwa and Mantapala refugee settlements were supported with business grants to help them recover their small-scale businesses. A total of 5,440 people of concern (PoCs) in the three refugee settlements have undertaken COVID-19 tests since the pandemic began in March 2020. At the end of October 2021, UNHCR submitted 169 cases comprising 643 refugees for resettlement consideration. Most of the resettlement departures were to Nordic countries.

Some 257 women and youth owned businesses from Lusaka, Meheba, Mayukwayukwa and Mantapala refugee settlements were supported with business grants to help them recover their small-scale businesses. A total of 5,440 people of concern (PoCs) in the three refugee settlements have undertaken COVID-19 tests since the pandemic began in March 2020. At the end of October 2021, UNHCR submitted 169 cases comprising 643 refugees for resettlement consideration. Most of the resettlement departures were to Nordic countries.

Some 9,189 additional refugees were registered in Zambia (2,777 asylum-seekers, 2,060 births and 4,352 in-situ) between 1 January and 31 August 2022. Some 75 per cent are from the Democratic Democratic Republic of the Congo. 1,087 refugee files were submitted to resettlement countries from 1 January to 31 August 2022. 756 refugees were resettlement to USA, Sweden and Finland. A total of 17,800 learners enrolled in early childhood education , primary and secondary schools in Zambia’s three refugee settlements. Over 250 refugee students are enrolled in different universities in Zambia.

Some 9,189 additional refugees were registered in Zambia (2,777 asylum-seekers, 2,060 births and 4,352 in-situ) between 1 January and 31 August 2022. Some 75 per cent are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 1,087 refugee files were submitted to resettlement countries from 1 January to 31 August 2022. 756 refugees were resettlement to USA, Sweden and Finland. A total of 17,800 learners enrolled in early childhood education, primary and secondary schools in Zambia’s three refugee settlements. Over 250 refugee students are enrolled in different universities in Zambia.

The Government of Zambia is leading and coordinating the refugee response in order to achieve its commitments towards the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF). Under the 2017 Refugee Act, the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees (COR), within the Ministry of Home Affairs, is mandated to deal with refugee matters. Thus, in 2018 Zambia adopted the mainstreaming approach, which requires that all line ministries including the Ministries of Agriculture (MoA), Health, Education and Community Services contribute to key sectors under the COR. The coordination of different sectors and partners is managed through interagency meetings at district and country levels. This is further strengthened through sectoral and bilateral interactions with distinct stakeholders. UNHCR is the primary interlocutor and lead Agency for refugee matters among UN agencies. To respond to the ongoing Congolese refugee crisis in a holistic and coordinated manner, the Government of Zambia constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) composed of key line ministries. The IMC is comprised of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Chair), Office of the President, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of General Education, Minister of Luapula Province and the UN (RC and UNHCR). UNHCR works closely with the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees (COR) in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and other key government line ministries. UNHCR also works in partnership with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and the international non-governmental organizations (I-NGOs), such as Action Africa Help, Plan International, Caritas Czech Republic, CARE International and World Vision Zambia. Most of INGOs and UN agencies provide community-based protection and basic assistance to refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Mantapala settlement, northern Zambia. The Government of Zambia, UNHCR and partners also provide community-based protection and social support to persons of concern in Lusaka as well as the older refugee settlements of Meheba and Mayukwayukwa, in Western and North Western Provinces. The coordination and management of refugee settlements is led by the Government as per its mandate under the Refugee Act (Act No. 1 of 2017).