More than 12,000 Congolese have so far sought refuge in Zambia after fleeing militia violence in south-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with more than 8,400 arrivals in the last three months alone, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) says.
80 percent of those refugees are women and children, driven out by the extreme brutality of rampaging militias, with reports of civilians being killed, women being raped, private property looted and houses torched.
Most of the refugees are coming from the Haut-Katanga and Tanganyika Provinces of the (DRC).
The majority of the refugees have crossed into the province of Luapula and are hosted at the Kenani Transit Centre in Nchelenge, about 90 kilometres from the border.
Others are also entering in other northern and north-western provinces of Zambia.
The agency reports that more people could be forced to flee the DRC into Zambia, as fighting continues in their country.
UNCHR reports that around 4.1 million people remain displaced in the DRC.
Kenani Transit Centre, which currently hosts over 8,000 refugees is filled to maximum capacity. Zambia has made more land available for a new site to ease pressure on the existing site and accommodate new arrivals.
UNHCRhoiwever says that it is struggling to provide life-saving assistance including food, shelter, water and sanitation and access to health services to the rrefugees due to funding challenges.
Zambia currently hosts over 65,000 refugees including some 33,000 from the DRC.
