The Zambian government has started an emergency plan to help asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as their number grows each day.
While touring a transit center for asylum seekers in Luapula province on Tuesday, President Edgar Lungu appealed to the international community to do more in support of the government’s effort, Xinhua reports.
“The needs of the refugees and the host community are many. This is a big challenge,” Lungu said when addressing the asylum seekers.
According to president Lungu, the country expects to receive more asylum seekers from the DRC as indications so far show the situation in the DRC is likely to worsen.
He further said the country will face challenges to take care of the asylum seekers when they are moved to a permanent settlement, the report said.
Since the beginning of 2017, about 5,761 Congolese have crossed the border into Zambia, totalling to 27,338 Congolese refugees and asylum seekers in the country, among a population of 60,606 refugees and asylum seekers, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees.
