Book Description

In 1981 a study was made of Zairian and Angolan refugees in villages in Zambia's North-Western Province. The aim was to determine the numbers involved, to collect information on social and economic conditions and to document the refugees' most pressing needs, as a basis for the provision of UNHCR assistance. Refugee identification was complicated by shared ethnicity across national boundaries and by the refugees' fears of repatriation. The paper gives background data on North-Western Province and an analysis of survey responses. Efforts were made to determine the health status of the refugees and their level of integration. The report emphasizes that the safety and security of refugees are crucial to their social integration. The authors conclude by making some recommendations to improve the status and security of refugees in Zambia.