Lunda-Norte: The embassies of the United Kingdom, China, and France have pledged financial support for humanitarian assistance to refugees in Angola's eastern Lunda-Norte province. The commitment was made during a meeting with the deputy governor for the social, political, and economic sector of Lunda-Norte, Frederico Barroso.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the UK ambassador to Angola, Baharat Joshi, stated that his country is exploring potential new partnerships with the Angolan government to assist refugees. The ambassador emphasized the need for countries within the UN Security Council to find new funding mechanisms for projects aimed at the socio-economic reintegration of refugees, in light of reduced donations and funding.
Baharat Joshi highlighted the importance of developing new partnerships with Angola to address humanitarian challenges. He also visited Lunda-Norte to understand the situation of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) residing in the Lovua refugee camp and to identify support mechanisms for their reintegration.
French embassy Counsellor Christophe Carlucci assured that France would collaborate with Angola in supporting and protecting refugees. He announced plans to establish a French agency in Luanda by June, focusing exclusively on refugee support, in coordination with the Angolan government.
Dai Fenfning, Counsellor of the Chinese embassy in Angola, praised Angola's efforts in conflict mediation in Africa and its role in accommodating displaced citizens. China plans to increase its investments and donations to enhance the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR) activities globally, particularly in Angola.
The UNHCR has announced the closure of its offices in Angola by the last quarter of this year due to funding shortages. To maintain refugee assistance, an office in South Africa will oversee operations in Angola, alongside a representation in Luanda staffed by two national officers.
The Lovua refugee camp currently hosts over 6,000 of the 35,000 refugees from the DRC who fled violence in the Kasai area in May 2017, prompting an emergency declaration.
In Angola, the UNHCR controls a total of 56,000 refugees of various nationalities, mostly from the.
