10 000 Angolans to be repatriated

10 000 Angolans to be repatriated

WINDHOEK – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) plans to repatriate 10 000 Angolan refugees this year.

Most Angolan refugees in Namibia live at the Osire Refugee Camp, about 240 km north east of Windhoek. UNHCR Spokesperson Esekiel Xamseb told Nampa yesterday that the repatriation was expected to reduce the number of Angolans at Osire from 12 000 refugees to only 2 000 refugees.Refugees scheduled to be resettled in central and northern Angola will have to be flown or airlifted to these areas because of the condition of the roads in Angola, which has just emerged from nearly three decades of civil war.Refugees returning to southern Angola will travel by road.Xamseb said the first batch of 800 refugees would go home in March.A team of six Angolan refugees and UNHCR officials is assessing the area where the 800 will be resettled to determine that it is habitable and clear of landmines.The voluntary repatriation of Angolan refugees in Namibia started in June, but the process was temporarily suspended after roads in Angola were damaged by heavy rains.An estimated 4 500 refugees were repatriated to Angola last year.- NampaUNHCR Spokesperson Esekiel Xamseb told Nampa yesterday that the repatriation was expected to reduce the number of Angolans at Osire from 12 000 refugees to only 2 000 refugees. Refugees scheduled to be resettled in central and northern Angola will have to be flown or airlifted to these areas because of the condition of the roads in Angola, which has just emerged from nearly three decades of civil war. Refugees returning to southern Angola will travel by road. Xamseb said the first batch of 800 refugees would go home in March. A team of six Angolan refugees and UNHCR officials is assessing the area where the 800 will be resettled to determine that it is habitable and clear of landmines. The voluntary repatriation of Angolan refugees in Namibia started in June, but the process was temporarily suspended after roads in Angola were damaged by heavy rains. An estimated 4 500 refugees were repatriated to Angola last year. – Nampa

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