THE United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has thanked the Zambian Government for its continued hospitality to hosting of refugees.

UNHCR country representative Joyce Mends-Cole said the agency was impressed with the Government for providing a conducive atmosphere for refugees residing in various camps.

Ms Mends-Cole said UNHCR was happy Zambians had been accommodative by allowing foreigners to seek protection after deserting their respective countries due to wars and conflicts.

She said this in Lusaka yesterday when she and Lusaka District Commissioner (DC) Christah Kalulu toured UNHCR urban refugee project at Makeni transit Centre.

The centre comprise pre-school, counseling community centre, small housing units and a clinic where urban refugees seek treatment and are only transferred to University Teaching Hospital (UTH) when there was an emergency.

She said the agency would continue to support the Government to fulfill its international obligations on refugees by providing foodstuffs in collaboration with World Food Programme (WFP) and other organisations.

The Government in conjunction with UNHCR has started transferring Congolese refuges from Mwange in Mporokoso to Maheba refugee settlement in North-Western Province.

Since 2007, 38,169 Congolese refugees have returned home from Zambia under the repatriation programme. Zambia hosts some 20,350 Congolese refugees, with about 4,145 of them in Mwange and another 3,698 in the Kala camp in the far north of the country.

Another 1,845 are in urban areas while 6,535 are self-settled in local communities.

Ms Mends-Cole said UNHCR would continue with repatriation exercise because peace had returned to many countries and the refugees could go back to contribute to development of their countries.

And Ms Kalulu said the Government remained committed and would keep its doors open to host refugees because humans were same regardless of tribe and background.

She said President Rupiah Banda pledged commitment to working closely with UNHCR to uplift the living standards of vulnerable people and also provide a peaceful atmosphere for refugees in all designated camps.

Makeni transit Centre.project coordinator Stanslous Chele said four other designated centres had been established in Lusaka's Kanyama, Chawama, Mandevu and George Township where services were offered for urban refugees.