Brussels, 08/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Monday the European Commission decided to grant EUR 3 million to help tackle the growing refugee crisis in Zambia. The general objective is to cope with the consequences of the movement of new refugees into the country from neighbouring states and to provide emergency services to the new arrivals. The assistance provided by the EU's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) will support a range of activities for new arrivals and vulnerable groups in the refugee camps including health screening, vaccinations, food aid and water/sanitation projects. Specific support will also go to children under five.
Zambia has been a haven for people fleeing conflict in neighbouring countries since the mid-1960s. However, the country's capacity to provide asylum and services to refugees has been drastically eroded, due to declining economic fortunes and an accelerated influx in recent years. Since 1999 the number of refugees has grown by 50% to reach almost 300,000. More than half are accommodated in six large camps with the remainder settling spontaneously in local communities without applying for formal refugee status. The bulk of the refugees come from Angola (235,000) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (50,000). The assistance from the Commission will benefit both refugees living in the camps, as well as the general population of the refugee-affected areas.