Ethiopian and Somali refugees arrive in Zambia

June 13, 2006 (LUSAKA) — More refugees from Ethiopia and Somalia have arrived in Zambia through Nakonde border in Northern province, Nakonde district commissioner said in the district.

Edwin Sinyinza said Tuesday that 52 refugees entered Nakonde last Friday bringing to 270 the total number of Ethiopian and Somali refugees who have entered Zambia through Nakonde this year.

Sinyinza said the refugees came in through Malawi after traveling on foot from Ethiopia and Somalia passing through Kenya and Tanzania before entering Malawi through Karonga, Xinhua reported.

Sinyinza said out of the 52 refugees, three are women and the rest are men aged between 20 and 30 years.

He said all the refugees are in good health but in urgent need of food and shelter.

The district administration is finding it difficult to provide food and shelter to the refugees because of inadequate resources, he said.

Residents of Chinka are said to be unhappy with the government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for not responding in good time to take the refugees to designated places.

The residents feel the continued influx of refugees through Chinka is a threat to household food security in the area.

Mukulika Ward Councilor Boniface Siame said people in his ward have now run out of food because they have been feeding refugees since this May on humanitarian grounds.

Siame said hunger is now looming in Mukulika Ward especially in Chanka and other surrounding villages as a result of the local people sharing food with refugees.

(ST)