Huambo, 09/27 - A total of 6,076
Angolan refugees, among men, women and children, who lived in the republics
of Zambia and Botswana for years, were repatriated into Huambo province
between May 22 and September this year, Angop learned.
The repatriation was an operation that
involved the Huambo provincial Government, the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The process of repatriation was resumed on 16 May this year, after it had been suspended as a result of heavy rains between late in December 2004 and April this year.
According to the head of the refugees transit centre, Tito Kapita, the process is going smooth, despite the bad condition of some roads affecting the transportation of refugees into districts headquarters, which may become worse with the start of the rainy season.
With two flights a day, 5. 834 citizens have already been relocated in 11 districts of the province and in other localities like Luanda, Benguela, Bié, Huíla, Cunene and Kuanza-Sul.
Meanwhile, IOM is providing for funds to help with the transportation of a smaller group of citizens into the provinces of Cabinda and Lunda-Norte.
The process that started in June 2003, and is to end this year, has led to the repatriation of 15.840 Angolan citizens from Zambia, Namibia and Botswana.