Zambia warns of security threat from hungry refugees

LUSAKA – Starving refugees in Zambia have begun deserting their camps to search for food, a senior official said yesterday, warning of a “security risk” to nearby villages.

More than 100 refugees from Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo left their camps after the World Food Programme (WFP) halved their food rations last month, home affairs secretary Peter Mumba said. “They have started leaving the camps in order to look for food in nearby villages.This is becoming a security risk for our country because the refugees are not being monitored,” said Mumba.The Zambian government has called for an urgent meeting with donors to appeal for more funds for the refugees living in five camps set up along the northern and western borders with Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.WFP spokeswoman in Zambia Jo Woods told AFP that the hunger situation in refugee camps was becoming desperate because donors were not coming forth with pledges for food aid.WFP is looking for US$8,5 million dollars to feed the 82 000 refugees living in the camps.”We are concerned about the lack of response and hope that we will receive donations soon as food is to run out in March,” Woods said.Zambia, which shelters over 200 000 refugees mainly from Angola and the DRC, is facing a critical food shortage and most of its own people are now depending on food relief.- Nampa-AFP”They have started leaving the camps in order to look for food in nearby villages.This is becoming a security risk for our country because the refugees are not being monitored,” said Mumba.The Zambian government has called for an urgent meeting with donors to appeal for more funds for the refugees living in five camps set up along the northern and western borders with Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.WFP spokeswoman in Zambia Jo Woods told AFP that the hunger situation in refugee camps was becoming desperate because donors were not coming forth with pledges for food aid.WFP is looking for US$8,5 million dollars to feed the 82 000 refugees living in the camps.”We are concerned about the lack of response and hope that we will receive donations soon as food is to run out in March,” Woods said.Zambia, which shelters over 200 000 refugees mainly from Angola and the DRC, is facing a critical food shortage and most of its own people are now depending on food relief.- Nampa-AFP