Zambia hosts 82,729 refugees
Zambia currently is a home to 82,729 Refugees, reports Martha Banda.
The United Nations in charge of Refugees, UNHCR Representative to Zambia has assumed office.
The 82,729 refugees according to UNHCR also include other persons of concern living in three refugee settlements and in urban areas.
Many of these Refugees are from neighbouring Congo DR, Rwanda and Angola who fled their countries due to war.
And Ms. Preeta Law is the new Boss for UNHCR in Zambia. She presented her letters of credence in Lusaka on Friday 17th March 2023 to Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Minister, Stanley Kakubo.
This is according to a press release below to Zambian Eye issued by UNCR Communications Manager Kelvin Shimo.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday 21 March 2023
New UNHCR Representative to Zambia assumes office
Ms. Preeta Law, the newly-appointed United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative to Zambia, has assumed official duties after presenting her letters of credence in Lusaka on Friday 17 March 2023 to Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Minister, Honourable Stanley Kakubo (MP).
Ms. Law, who takes over from Ms. Pierrine Aylara, brings over 20 years of experience in forced displacement and refugee protection leadership. Prior to this appointment, she served as UNHCR Representative in South Africa and as Special Adviser in the Division of International Protection in UNHCR Headquarters. Ms. Law was deployed in complex humanitarian situations in Myanmar and the former Yugoslavia and has held other senior positions in UNHCR, including Deputy Director in the Division of International Protection in UNHCR Headquarters. Prior to UNHCR, Ms. Law worked with women’s civil society organisations in India. Ms. Law holds a B.A. in political science and anthropology from Sarah Lawrence College in the United States.
Ms. Law looks forward to continuing the strong collaboration that has long characterized UNHCR’s partnership with the Government of Zambia, members of the diplomatic community, UN agencies, non-governmental organisations, civil society and other stakeholders in the refugee programme in Zambia.
“I am honored to assume my role as Representative in this beautiful and generous country, which has a long history of providing refuge and protection to those forced to flee war and persecution and finding solutions for them,” she stated.
The Honourable Minister, Stanley Kakubo He applauded the good working relationship between the Zambian Government and UNHCR and that Zambia stands ready to benefit from the immense experience of the new UNHCR Representative with regard to humanitarian issues.
Zambia currently hosts 82,729 refugees and other persons of concern living in three refugee settlements and in urban areas.
Picture: Ms. Preeta Law, the UNHCR Representative, presenting her letters of credence to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Lusaka@UNHCR / Kelvin Shimoh