Operational environment
The political situation in Zambia remained stable, although with some challenges due to slow economic growth, rising fiscal deficit and an increase in foreign debts. UNHCR continued to work closely with key government line ministries, the UN Country Team, NGO partners and host communities. Zambia is currently the only Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) pilot country in southern Africa, and it has maintained its borders open to provide access mainly to those fleeing from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Within a local integration programme, some 1,500 former Angolan refugees have obtained permanent residence permits and another 1,500 former Rwandan former refugees have received temporary permanent residence permits.
Population trends
At the end of 2018, Zambia was hosting 76,030 people of concern including 49,880 refugees, 3,310 asylum-seekers and 22,840 other people of concern comprising of the 17,870 Angolan and 4,980 Rwandan former refugees. This represented an 11% increase in people of concern in Zambia in 2018.Besides the refugees hosted in Mantapala, Mayukwayukwa and Meheba settlements, there were over 12,000 self-settled refugees across the country. The majority of refugees and asylum-seekers in Zambia are from the DRC. The relatively low number of asylum-seekers is due to the prima facie determination of new Congolese arrivals in Luapula Province.
Key achievements
- Cash-based interventions were strengthened through a shift to the provision of digital cash through a financial service provider;
- More than 4,940 people of concern and members of host community in Mantapala settlement underwent voluntary HIV/AIDS testing and counselling;
- A shift from semi-temporary latrines to permanent latrines was initiated in Mantapala settlement through the construction of prototype, in line with UNHCR’s WASH strategy;
- The number of women participating in leadership positions in Meheba settlement increased;
- Improvement in community awareness on the various forms of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and timely reporting of SGBV cases in Mayukwayukwa settlement.
Unmet needs
Due to funding constraints, the following needs remained unmet:
- Lack of sufficient medical staff and medicines in all three settlements;
- In Mantapala settlement, there is an urgent need for over 2,000 latrines and bath shelters for households and schools.
- The Mantapala settlement is lacking a functioning solid waste management system.