EU humanitarian aid to Angola for the repatriation of refugees from Namibia and Zambia

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The European Commission has released €3 million from the European Development Fund to support transport and logistics for the repatriation of up to 45,000 Angolan refugees from Namibia (€1 million) and Zambia (€2 million). The aid will be channelled through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) and implemented by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Approximately half of the 442,000 refugees estimated to have fled to neighbouring countries during Angola's 27-year civil war still remain in their host countries, with large numbers in Zambia and Namibia. Many thousands of refugees began to return home spontaneously as soon as the ceasefire was declared, and these spontaneous returns - up to 130,000 - have continued steadily ever since. 45,000 more will be/have been/need to be repatriated in organised convoys. Up to 145,000 more are expected to be repatriated, both spontaneously and in an organised manner, during 2004.

The repatriation of refugees is a prime and fundamental consideration from a humanitarian standpoint, as well as being driven by political imperatives. The fact that almost two and a half years have passed since the end of the war in Angola, and that the peace is holding, is the most compelling political imperative.

These decisions will directly address the crucial transport and logistics needs for up to 15,000 Angolan refugees being repatriated, both spontaneously and in an organised manner, from Namibia and up to 30,000 from Zambia. HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness and mine awareness activities will be an integral component of all interventions. Children, who make up 56% of the population of the refugee camps, will be major beneficiaries of interventions funded under these decisions.

ECHO in 2003 provided funding to the tune of €4,541,811 for repatriation-related activities. Furthermore, ECHO has in 2003 and 2004 granted funding directly to humanitarian partners providing primary health care, emergency food security, essential relief items, HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness activities and humanitarian demining and mine awareness activities to returning refugees in Angola.

For more information on ECHO's activities in Angola:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/field/angola/index_en.htm

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