The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
STORY: Congolese Refugees Repatriation from Angola - UNHCR
TRT: 1’50”
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 19 July 2022, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
Voluntary Repatriation of Refugees to DR Congo Resumes
After a two-year hiatus, the voluntary repatriation of refugees from Angola to their home Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has started again. It had been on hold since 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of the border between the two countries.
"The first convoy of 88 Congolese refugees departed from the Lôvua settlement in northern Angola this morning towards the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The convoy is expected to arrive in the DRC tomorrow,” announced Boris Cheshirkov, the spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), at a media briefing this morning in Geneva.
The Lôvua camp in Angola hosts some 7,000 refugees. Many have not seen their family since fleeing political and ethnic violence in the DRC’s Kasai region in 2017. More than 35,000 people crossed the border to find safety in Angola at the time.
Despite the endemic insecurity and intensification of the armed conflict in eastern DRC, which has caused 5.9 million people to become internally displaced, Mr. Cheshirkov was reassuring regarding the situation in other parts of the country: “Although conflict continues in eastern DRC, improvements in security in the west have re-opened the possibility for Congolese to return to their country in dignity and safety”.
Upon arrival in the DRC, repatriated Congolese refugees receive cash assistance to help cover basic needs such as personal hygiene, household items and initial assistance for rent. Additional support is also provided to help integrate the resttled populations: for example, for getting documentation and helping children go back to school. At the same time, “UNHCR will always continue to advocate for the full support in essential services to be provided by the government, by the authorities, to those going back, especially when it comes to insecurity, so they are able to rebuild their lives”, insisted the UN Refugee Agency’s spokesperson.
Only two per cent of the world’s refugees were able to return home last year
Already, over 600 Congolese refugees have expressed willingness to go back home. More are likely to show interest with the resumption of the repatriation efforts.
UNHCR assists some 57,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Angola, mostly in urban areas. “This year, the operation has received US$10.3 million of the US$29.8 million it needs, leaving a significant gap in addressing the basic needs of the refugees and asylum seekers. And UNHCR in DRC has received just 19 per cent of the US$225 million required to respond to the growing needs of displaced people in the DRC.”
Globally, last year, nearly 430,000 people were able to return home in safety and dignity, a 71 per cent increase on the previous year. Nearly two-thirds of refugee returns were to South Sudan. That number represents just two per cent of the world’s refugees.
Ends
- Medium shot, UN Geneva flag alley.
- Medium shot, panel of speakers, side shot.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Boris Cheshirkov, UNHCR spokesperson: “the first convoy of 88 Congolese refugees departed from the Lôvua settlement in northern Angola this morning towards the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The convoy is expected to arrive in the DRC tomorrow.”
- Medium shot, lateral, journalists.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Boris Cheshirkov, UNHCR spokesperson: “Although conflict continues in eastern DRC, improvements in security in the west have re-opened the possibility for Congolese to return to their country in dignity and safety”.
- Wide shot of press room, podium and journalists.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Boris Cheshirkov, UNHCR spokesperson: “UNHCR will always continue to advocate for the full support in essential services to be provided by the government, by the authorities to those going back, especially when it comes to insecurity, so they are able to rebuild their lives.”
- Wide shot of press room
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Boris Cheshirkov, UNHCR spokesperson: “This year, the operation (in Angola) has received US$10.3 million of the US$29.8 million it needs. This is leaving a significant gap in addressing the basic needs of the refugees and asylum seekers. And UNHCR in DRC has received just 19 per cent of the US$225 million it requires in the country to respond to the growing needs of those displaced on its territory.”
- Various medium shots of journalists and UN staff listening.
Similar Stories
3
1
Edited News | UNITED NATIONS , OCHA , UNHCR
Ukraine enters fifth year of war: Attacks and displacement deepen human suffering amid mounting recovery challenges
On the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, UN officials took stock of the immense human and economic toll of the conflict while appealing to the world to “never get used to war.”
2
27
2
2
Edited News , Press Conferences , Images | General Assembly , UNITED NATIONS
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops on 24 February 2022 shattered the peaceful aspirations of an entire continent, but war must never be the new normal, UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said on Tuesday.
1
48
1
1
Edited News | UNOG
A ceremony marking the completion of the construction of the Portail des Nations, a soon-to-open visitors centre for the UN in Geneva, was held today for diplomats from around the world who have gathered in the Swiss city for the opening session of the Human Rights Council.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his opening remarks to the 61str session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
1
10
1
1
Edited News | HRC , SG
In Geneva, delegates from more than 120 countries gathered on Monday to mark 20 years of the UN Human Rights Council and a shared commitment to international law, amid runaway global instability and conflict, amid runaway global instability and conflict.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The UN Human Rights Office has published a report on the grave human rights abuses suffered by the hundreds of thousands of people trafficked into scam operations mostly in southeast Asia.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Spokesperson Marta Hurtado briefed journalists on a UN report detailing child trafficking by gangs and how it is putting Haiti’s future at risk.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , IFRC , UN WOMEN
Ukraine’s women at breaking point after four years of war as attacks on energy, healthcare continue – UN humanitarians
Four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, millions in Ukraine struggle to keep the lights on and heat their homes, with the crisis taking a particular toll on women, humanitarians warned on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
“Migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in Libya are subjected to ruthless and systematic human rights violations and abuses, which include killings, torture, sexual violence and trafficking,” the UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan told the bi-weekly press conference in Geneva today.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF , IOM
Four years of war in Ukraine: Childhood has ‘moved underground’, displacement continues – UN humanitarians
Civilian suffering shows no sign of letting up in Ukraine as the four-year-mark of Russia’s full-scale invasion nears amid attacks on energy infrastructure, blackouts and freezing temperatures, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The UN Human Rights Office on Friday voiced concerns about the severe impacts on human rights of the socio-economic crisis in Cuba.
1
1
1
Edited News | WFP
Madagascar: ‘Overwhelming’ destruction, surging needs after back-to-back cyclones – WFP
Some 10 days after tropical cyclone Fytia brought heavy rains and flooding to Madagascar, cyclone Gezani has left the island’s main port in ruins, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.