5 November 2008
ABOUT 3,000 refugees in two refugee settlements in Zambia are faced with starvation if the World Food Programme (WFP) does not receive additional resources for food next year.
However, the Zambian Government has described the situation as a security concern.
Home Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha said in an interview yesterday that the Government was worried with the potential security risk the matter could cause, as the refugees would be leaving the camps to 'scramble' for the little food resources available in the local communities.
United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) country representative James Lynch said in a statement yesterday that the WFP's resources had declined because the population of recipient refugees had increased to levels higher that projected.
Mr Lynch said there were about 9,000 refugees in Maheba in North-western Province and Mayukwayukwa in Western who were receiving food assistance from WFP, out of the total population of 26,300 in the two settlements.
"We have received communication from WFP stating that from 2009, they will stop providing food to refugees at Maheba and Mayukwayukwa refugee settlements. While the majority in the settlements don't need food assistance because they have attained self-sufficiency, we are worried for the vulnerable who still need assistance," Mr Lynch said.
The withdrawal of food assistance for the vulnerable would be done in phases, with the refugees receiving half rations in October, November and December this year while there would no food rations from January next year.
And UNHCR deputy representative Fernando Protti-Alvarado, who is in charge of programme and operational activities, said the withdrawal of assistance would result in malnutrition in children under the age of five.
He added that the withdrawal would also result in an increase in 'sex-for-food' transaction, which could lead to higher incidences of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
With the impending withdrawal of food, Mr Protti-Alvarado said there was need for donors to support the WFP and the UNHCR in looking after vulnerable refugees.
"UNHCR on its part will continue to look at long-term solutions to enable some of the vulnerable people like single-female headed households to embark on income generating activities for their sustenance," he said.
Zambia hosts more than 86,000 refugees with 56,000 of them in camps.
There are 50 Congolese refugees, 27 Angolans and smaller numbers from Rwanda, Burundi and Somalia. Other refugee camps are Kala and Mwange in Northern Province.
And Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said the matter was of concern to the Government and hoped that the donors would come forward and assist WFP with food rations for refugees.
Gen. Shikapwasha said last month, his permanent secretary Susan Sikaneta attended a meeting of the UNHCR executive committee at which she presented Government's appeal to donors to fund the WFP.
He said Zambia is home to thousands of refugees and would not want such foreign citizens to starve on the Zambian soil.
"Our hope is that the donors will respond positively because we don't want to see refugees to starve and start leaving camps to fight for food with the local communities," he said.
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