The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that Italy has contributed 250 thousand Euros towards refugee programs in Zambia.
This is in response to a call for international support made by President Edgar Lungu to the international community, to support Zambia in providing assistance to refugees.
In a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today Permanent Secretary (PS) Chileshe Mulenga said government needs every support they can get to care for the refugees, as the refugee population continues to rise
Dr. Mulenga said the support is timely, as it comes at a critical time when the country is running low on essential supplies and relocating the refugees from the Kenani transit centre to the newly established Mantapala refugee settlement in Nchelenge district.
He explained that as at 30th January 2018, the refugee population had risen to fourteen thousand five hundred and twenty nine (14529) and is expected to increase to twenty thousand (20,000) by April, 2018.
Dr. Mulenga said the donation is being disbursed through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
He said the donation will also go towards providing the basic needs of the refugees, especially food, clean water and sanitation, tents, blankets and mosquito nets.
Dr. Mulenga said the contribution will also support strengthening border patrols in Luapula and Northern provinces and assisting the victims of sexual and gender based violence.
He has also appealed to other donors and the international community at large, to emulate the gesture of the government of Italy.
It will be in auditors general.., yet again.
lungu will personally pocket 50% of that money, his minions will share among themselves 45% and the balance, 5%, with lots of luck, may find its way to the intended beneficiaries.
Peanuts.
That is $300 000 US, those are not peanuts.
I look forward to a day when our government will refuse such handouts and say ” thank you for your concern but we will manage, the Italian people need that money to work in their country”.
AFRIKA AFRIKA AFRIKA…………………. AFRIKA IS AN ENEMY TO HERSELF…!!! WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CONGO DR IS PATHETIC AND UNACCEPTABLE….
Well lungu and the other hopless bunch of leaders in SADC live by the moto , as regards to kabila…
“….dont condemn me if I decide to cancell elections and stay on in power…you might want to do so also…”
Italians , why are you waisting your money ??
Let SADC deal with this mess, they support the wannabe dictator kabila in his efforts to overstay in office…….
Thanx to Italy.Dont listen to SOME lazy Zambian who see nothing but corruption.Failling to make it in life and taking care of themselves and their families and blaming the government and corruption.apana initiative but negative and jealous minded people
Sh1thole Africa. Because of one guy in the DRC, people are running away from there coming to another Sh1thole country that can’t afford to keep them but has to ask for help from a white racist European country called Italy. Don’t our leaders feel ashamed when they ask for hand outs every time. Zambia if properly governed cannot fail to keep a few thousand refugees from a sh1hole neighboring country. We are just so used to begging from the western world as a country. look at what Mugabe did to Zimbabwe. It was said that at its peak in the 80s Zimbabwe alone could afford to feed the whole of Africa but look where it is. By the way DRC has been so unlucky when it comes to leadership which is why it remains a sh1thole despite being one of the richest resources wise.