The overall security situation in Zambia remained stable with no significant changes in the political landscape. However, the economic situation was volatile due to fluctuations in the local currency, underpinned by external trade challenges and the country’s debt situation. The Government of Zambia maintained an open-door policy, and allowed asylum-seekers to obtain international protection in the country. This was exemplified by the Government’s continued granting of prima facie refugee status to Congolese asylum-seekers arriving directly at the border. Asylum-seekers of other nationalities were referred for individual refugee status determination, with the rejection rate at less than 5%. The number of asylum-seekers arriving per month from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) dropped to 500, compared to over 1,000 at the onset of the crisis in 2017.
In 2019, development and humanitarian work continued in the Mantapala settlement. The Government of Zambia, in collaboration with the United Nations, local and international NGOs and other partners, continued the construction of education, health, WASH and other infrastructure and facilities. The Mantapala integrated settlement was established in 2018, with the Government of Zambia and partners had applying a comprehensive refugee response (CRR) approach in an emergency context. The Mantapala settlement comprises seven villages hosting Zambians and around 15,000 Congolese asylum-seekers, who live peacefully together, sharing natural and humanitarian resources. Two health posts, -two schools and WASH facilities as well as some temporary shelters were constructed to increase the absorption capacity of the settlement.
In August 2018, following the expiry of Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) funding, several partners left Mantapala settlement, leaving the Government, UN agencies (UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, and UNFPA) and other partners to complete the infrastructure development and provision of essential services for an increasing refugee population. UNHCR stepped in as a provider of last resort and mobilized funds to bridge the gap and address unmet critical humanitarian needs. Despite the considerable efforts by the Zambian Government in allocating dedicated government-paid personnel to manage the Mantapala settlement and providing access to land and other natural resources to Congolese arrivals, the establishment and development of the settlement has mostly been done with the support of the United Nations and international NGOs. There is, therefore, considerable scope for more engagement by development partners. In line with the Government’s commitment to apply the CRR approach an emphasis was placed on the education and livelihood sectors, reflecting their prioritization in the initial phase. Accordingly, education and livelihood area-based action plans for the three settlements were developed, following comprehensive dialogue and stakeholder engagement on gaps and priorities. Most of the gaps and increased needs are longer term in nature, which calls for a smooth transition from humanitarian to development support.
Meheba and Mayukwayukwa settlements continued to receive new arrivals, with the DRC emergency occasioning an increase of 20% of the existing refugee population. The increase placed further strain on the 50-year old infrastructure and amenities, in need of rehabilitation and expansion. Due to limited reception facilities and the need to enhance inclusion and cohesion between refugees and host communities, new arrivals were given refugee housing units (RHUs) and directly established in the existing community. A total of 2,497 individuals were registered in Meheba and 1,607 in Mayukwayukwa, including as a result of individual registration, updates to the proGres database, refugee status determination, screening of civilians, and issuance of documentation, with all arrivals being assisted with civil status registration.
In 2019, there was an increased demand for community-based protection and life-saving interventions, with many people of concern at heightened risk and living in increasing poverty in the absence of sustainable solutions. The refugee situation in Zambia - characterized by a growing protracted caseload, compounded by the ongoing Congolese crisis - reinforced the need for more support to people of concern. Some needs, especially relating to livelihoods, potable water, improved sanitation and sustainable shelters, remained unmet due to limited resources.