-
Angolan repatriation season starts again
21 May 2004 Two hundred Angolan refugees have gone home from Namibia in the first organised return convoy this year. They will soon be joined by Angolan refugees in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In all, UNHCR plans to help 145,000 Angolan returnees in 2004. -
Deputy High Commissioner completes review of Angola operations
27 Apr 2004 Deputy High Commissioner Wendy Chamberlin has returned from her mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola. In Angola, she met spontaneous returnees from Zambia and witnessed projects to help them settle back in their communities. -
Expelled Congolese workers need humanitarian aid, urges senior UNHCR official
23 Apr 2004 Deputy High Commissioner Wendy Chamberlin has appealed to aid agencies to work together to assist tens of thousands Congolese diamond miners expelled from Angola, and for the two governments to respect their basic rights. -
UNHCR concerned about Angolan refugees in DR Congo
22 Apr 2004 Sporadic attacks have been reported in Napassa refugee site, south of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Those responsible are a group of disgruntled Congolese diamond miners recently expelled from Angola in a government crackdown on irregular workers. -
Better security needed for Congolese returns, says senior UNHCR official
20 Apr 2004 On her first field trip with UNHCR, Deputy High Commissioner Wendy Chamberlin is reviewing the agency's operations in the field and the prospects for repatriation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola. -
Refugees lobby for identity in South Africa
1 Apr 2004 UNHCR and NGOs have joined refugees in South Africa to lobby for refugee identification that is non-discriminating and more widely-recognised. The government has agreed in principle to issue standard IDs to refugees, who will also get to test a pilot "smart card" system. -
Congolese refugee reaches out to South Africa's underprivileged
22 Mar 2004 Mufumbe Mateso Felix, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has set up a non-governmental organisation to help women and children in Johannesburg's Tshepisong Township. Projects range from computer, catering and sewing classes, to a centre for AIDS orphans. -
Caregivers help sick refugees leave in dignity
8 Jan 2004 The UN refugee agency is co-funding a home-based care project for terminally-ill refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa, where many of them have no access to health care. The caregivers are themselves refugees who want to help their counterparts die in peace and dignity. -
New agreement paves way for Angolans to return from South Africa
15 Dec 2003 The governments of South Africa, Angola and UNHCR have signed a tripartite agreement to help some 13,000 Angolans return home from South Africa. As one of the best-educated refugee groups in South Africa, the Angolans are expected to contribute to their country's rehabilitation.