UNHCR and the Government of Zambia begin the second phase of refugee repatriation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo LUSAKA, ZAMBIA - The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), in collaboration with the Zambian government and partners, organized the voluntary repatriation of Congolese refugees living in northern Zambia to their homes in Pweto in the Haut Katanga province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). On Friday, November 15, 2024, a convoy carrying 169 Congolese refugees (60 families) departed from Mantapala settlement in Nchelenge District, Luapula province, heading to Pweto in the DRC.

• Zambia's Vice President led a delegation from the government to attend the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) in Geneva, Switzerland. Upon departure in Lusaka, the Vice President said that Zambia will continue to shelter people seeking refuge from other countries due to conflicts, as mandated by the UN. Therefore, programmes such as the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva are important for the country to participate in. "As a country, we have hosted refugees for many years, and we will continue to provide shelter to those seeking protection from conflicts in our region," she said. The UNHCR Representative also attended the GRF in Geneva. While in Geneva, the Vice President will also take part in the celebration of the UN's 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The Vice President's attendance at a UNHCR function is a significant political representation and commitment by the Government of Zambia to the Global Compact on Refugees.

• A meeting was organized on Tuesday, 5 December 2023, by the Zambia Civil Liberties Union (ZCLU), a local NGO, with Members of Parliament to discuss refugees and statelessness. Many MPs attended the session, asking several questions and expressing political concerns. Clarifications were provided to the concerns raised by the MPs. The UNHCR Representative, the Commissioner for Refugees (COR), and refugees attended the meeting. UNHCR, directly or through partners, will continue to engage different stakeholders to further the interest of the people we serve.

A total of 10,851 individuals (2,922 families) voluntarily repatriated to the Democratic Republic of Congo between December 2021, when the first phase of the repatriation began and January 2023. The 3rd Phase of the Congolese repatriation is planned to commence in October 2023. Between 1 January and 30 September 2023, a total of 9,931 individuals were registered in the database. These comprised birth registrations, new arrivals and in-situ registrations. Of the 9,931, some 4,901 were new arrivals, with the majority from the DRC. From 1 January to 30 September 2023, some 2,409 individuals have cumulatively been submitted to various resettlement countries for resettlement consideration. 750 individuals have departed on resettlement so far this year to different countries. KEY INDICATORS 2,015 refugees were submitted to the USA as of 30 September 2023. 673 individuals departed on resettlement to various countries between 1 January and 30 September 2023. 67,197 individuals received treatment and care from the 10 settlement health facilities from 1 January to 30 September 2023. 13,096 are enrolled in schools across the three refugee settlements in Zambia, with 13% being from the host community. MAIN ACTIVITIES UNHCR and its partners support the Government to provide legal and community-based protection and social support. These interventions reached 19,817 persons in Lusaka and other urban areas, 39,838 people in the Meheba refugee settlement and 24,252 persons in the Mayukwayukwa refugee settlement in the North-Western and Western Provinces, respectively, and 8,138 persons in Mantapala settlement in Luapula Province are supported. Financial Information Contributions for the Zambia refugee operation (in US$) Total UNHCR financial requirements in 2023 for Zambia amount to US$ 25.5 million. Total recorded contributions for the UNHCR operation in Zambia as of 30 September 2023 amount to US$7,554,129 (70% funding gap). UNHCR is grateful to all donors for their continuous support. UNHCR is also grateful for unearmarked contributions made at the global level, which allow UNHCR critical flexibility to reach people in the greatest need and at the greatest risk.

From 1 January to 31 August 2023, some 1,552 individuals have cumulatively been submitted to various resettlement countries for resettlement consideration. 673 individuals have departed on resettlement so far this year to different countries. 1,552 refugees were submitted to various countries for resettlement consideration between 1 January and 31 August 2023. 58,531 individuals received treatment and care from the 10-settlement health facilities from 1 January to 31 August 2023. 13,096 are enrolled in schools across the three refugee settlements in Zambia, with 13% being from the host community. MAIN ACTIVITIES UNHCR and partners support the Government to provide legal and community-based protection and social support. These interventions reach 19,299 persons in Lusaka, 39,499 people in Meheba refugee settlement and 23,906 persons in Mayukwayukwa refugee settlement, in the North-Western and Western Provinces, respectively, and 7,943 persons in Mantapala settlement in Luapula Province are supported.

During the month of June, 38 cases comprising 183 individuals were submitted to various resettlement countries such as the USA (97), Finland (20), Australia (32) & Canada (26), Norway (8) for resettlement consideration. 6,232 individuals (new births, new arrivals and in-situ) were registered by UNHCR between January and end of end of June 2023. In June, as part of UNHCR’s distribution of Quarter Two (April, May and June) cash-based intervention (CBI) disbursement, 2,109 refugees (1,159 females and 950 males) received a total of $189,510 in multi-purpose cash support.

A total of 441 individuals comprising 114 families were assisted to voluntarily repatriate to the DRC in January. This brings the total number of refugees repatriated to 10,553 individuals in 2,836 families since the second phase of the voluntary repatriation programme started on 18 July 2022. 157 individuals departed under resettlement during the month of January USA: (35) and Finland (122). Eight cases comprising 26 individuals were submitted for resettlement consideration to the USA (19), Finland (7). A total of 513 people we serve (PWS) accessed Covid-19 testing services in the three refugee settlements, bringing the cumulative figure to 13,552. The number of positive cases recorded during the reporting month was 10 people we serve (PWS).

• As of 31 January 2023, a total of 10,650 individuals (2,868 families) had cumulatively been repatriated since the second phase of the voluntary repatriation movements started in July 2022, and 10,851 individuals comprising 2,922 families since the first phase of the voluntary repatriation programme from Mantapala settlement started in December 2021.

UNHCR and its education partner Caritas Czech Republic (CCR) completed the enrolment of 200 (males 123 and females 77) refugees at Cavendish University Zambia (CUZ) under the UNHCR/CUZ scholarships.

In coordination with UNHCR and partners, WFP distributed cash for food assistance to 12,412 people we serve (6,443 females and 5,969 males), through the WFP Cash-based Transfer (CBT) network in Mantapala. Refugees received ZMW118 per person from WFP using a digital payment service in the settlement.