Angola September 2006 |
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| No Reason for Angolans to Live Abroad, (NEWS, 2006-09-03):-There is no reason for any Angolan to live abroad with a refugee status, charge de affairs of the Angolan Embassy Joao Baptista Da Costa has said. And government has decided to close the Nangweshi Refugee Camp in Western Province following the repatriation of thousands of Angolan refugees. During the launch of Angolan refugee repatriation exercise at Mongu airstrip on Saturday, Da Costa said he was pleased it was the last voluntary repatriation exercise. "Today we can strongly affirm that peace came forever in the Republic of Angola," he said. Da Costa thanked government and the Zambians for providing shelter for the Angolan refugees. He also thanked the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), World Food Programme (WFP) and other partners for their services in the process. Da Costa told the returning refugees that Angola was awaiting them because there was enough space for everyone. "The country's economy is booming and growing quickly. So it is very important for you to go back home and make your contribution for the reconstruction of our nation," Da Costa said. Launching the exercise, Ministry of Home Affairs permanent secretary Peter Mumba said the Nangweshi Refugee Camp would be closed in October 2006. "Given that this is the final year of the implementation of the organised voluntary repatriation programme of Angolan refugees from Zambia, I want to urge refugees not to delay any longer in making a decision to return home," he said. Mumba urged doubting Angolan refugees to turn up in large numbers for repatriation in order to take advantage of the limited resources and time. He thanked donors for their unwavering commitment in ensuring the success of the Angolan repatriation programme. Mumba complained that lack of funds had greatly affected proper implementation of this year's repatriation exercise. He said government was however encouraged by the positive response from the United States government and Denmark through provision of US$1.2 million and US$1.6 million respectively. "These funds will go a long way in ensuring that those who still need assistance to repatriate back home receive it in this last leg of the Angolan repatriation programme which ends in December 2006," Mumba said. Mumba said the money from the US and Danish governments would be used by the IOM who would take over. He said partners were tagerting to repatriate 14,400 refugees who requested for assistance. He also thanked the Angolan government for making an aircraft available for the exercise. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees acting regional representative Vedasto Mwesige hoped the skills the refugees obtained while in Zambia would be utilised to reconstruct their lives in Angola. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |