150 route de Ferney, P.O. Box 2100 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Tel: 41 22 791 6033 Fax: 41 22 791 6506 e-mail: [email protected] Appeal Coordinating Office Zambia Emergency Relief for Angolan Refugees - AFZA-01 Appeal Target: US$ 3,169,365 Request from ACT Network: US$ 1,172,797 Geneva, 25 October 2000 Dear Colleagues, During the month of September over 10,000 Angolan refugees crossed into the North Western and Western provinces of Zambia to seek refuge from the fierce fighting inside Angola between the Angolan army and the UNITA forces. The Lutheran World Federation – Zambia Christian Refugee Service (LWF/ZCRS) the main partner to UNHCR, estimate the number to soon reach 15,000. LWF/ZCRS is managing the two main refugee camps Meheba (41,000 refugees) in North Western Province and Mayukwayukwa (14,000 refugees) in the Western Province. In addition to the two camps the agency is also managing the refugee transit centers at the border points. LWF/ZCRS proposes to respond to this new influx of Angolan refugees by providing crisis emergency needs as well as post crisis needs comprising the following elements: ¨ Food and Non Food Items distribution ¨ Shelter and other physical infrastructure development in the camps ¨ Health ¨ Water & Sanitation ¨ Transportation of refugees ¨ Basic Primary Education ACT is a worldwide network of churches and related agencies meeting human need through coordinated emergency response. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland. Emergency Relief to Angolan Refugees 2 AFZA-01 Project Completion Date: 30 September, 2001 Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested US$ Total Appeal Target(s) 3,169,365 Less: Pledges from UNHCR & WFP 1,996,568 Balance Requested from ACT Network 1,172,797 Please kindly send your contributions to the following ACT bank account: Account Number - 102539/0.01.061 (USD) Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together Banque Edouard Constant Cours de Rive 11 Case postale 3754 1211 Genève 3 SWITZERLAND Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (direct tel. +4122/791.60.38, e-mail address [email protected]) of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal. We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation. For further information please contact: ACT Co-ordinator, Thor-Arne Prois (phone ++41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone ++ 41 79 203 6055) or ACT Appeals Officer, John Nduna (phone +41 22 791 6040 or mobile phone ++41 79 433 0592) ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org Ms. Geneviève Jacques Thor-Arne Prois Rev. Rudolf Hinz Director ACT Coordinator Director WCC/Cluster on Relations LWF/World Service Emergency Relief to Angolan Refugees 3 AFZA-01 I. REQUESTING ACT MEMBER: ¨ Lutheran World Federation/Zambia Christian Refugee Service II. IMPLEMENTATING AGENCY & PARTNERS LWF/ZCRS began its work in Zambia in 1968 upon the request of the Government of Zambia and UNHCR to assist in refugee work. It has established a track record for assisting refugees and camp management. It has also been involved in resettlement and repatriation projects including managing the closure of the Ukwimi Refugee Settlement with the repatriation of Mozambican refugees. LWF/ZCRS was also responsible for the establishment of the Meheba Refugee Settlement in 1971 and its management until 1982 before returning in 1996. Today LWF/ZCRS is the lead-implementing partner in the Meheba and Mayukwayukwa Settlements for which this appeal is being made. LWF/ZCRS is also involved in two development projects in the Eastern Province of Zambia at Chipata [RCDM] and Ukwimi. Partners of LWF/ZCRS include the Christian Council of Zambia [CCZ], the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Zambia [ELC-Zambia], the Young Men’s Christian Association of Zambia [YMCA], the Catholic Diocese of Chipata [CDC], Jesuit Refugee Services [JRS], Christian Outreach Relief and Development [CORD], Africa Humanitarian Action [AHA], and Association to Aid Refugees [AAR]. In assisting refugees, LWF/ZCRS also works closely with UN agencies, e.g. the United Nations High Commission for Refugees [UNHCR] and World Food Programme [WFP]. CDC, CCZ and ELC Zambia have not been involved thus far in emergency work. The other partners i.e. YMCA, CORD, AAR, JRS, MSF-France and the UN agencies, UNHCR and WFP are involved in refugee work with LWF/ZCRS at Meheba and Mayukwayukwa in various capacities. III. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMERGENCY SITUATION Background A major influx of refugees into Zambia began in October 1999 as a result of the intensification of the civil war between Angolan Government troops and UNITA. This followed the recapture of UNITA strongholds, namely Andulo and Bailundo, by the government forces which resulted in an exodus of refugees from Moxico Province bordering Zambia’s Western and North Western Provinces. This led to a declaration of an emergency by the Government of Zambia, UNHCR, LWF/ZCRS and other partners, and the initiation of a coordinated response and mobilization of resources to assist the newly arrived refugees. LWF/ZCRS signed a letter of Mutual Intent with UNHCR and the government of Zambia ( GRZ) to be involved in the implementation of the emergency project. The refugees arrive through the border points of Mwinilunga, Zambezi and Chavuma in the North Western Province and Kalabo, Sinjembela and Lukulu in the Western Province. In the 11 months between October 1999 and August 2000, nearly 30,000 Angolan refugees arrived in the country. Meheba and Mayukwayukwa each received approximately 10,000, while approximately 10,000 were settled in Nangweshi, Western Province where the camp is managed by CARE. Emergency Relief to Angolan Refugees 4 AFZA-01 The initial influx was projected at 5,000 by the end of December 1999. In response to the emergency, LWF/ZCRS presented an ACT Appeal initially for 6 months, November 1999 to April 2000. A revision and an extension to the appeal was prepared to cover the period March to August 2000. LWF/ZCRS, the main implementing partner for UNHCR in both Meheba and Mayukwayukwa Settlements, is responsible for managing transit border centres at the border points of Zambezi, Chavuma and Kalabo. Kalabo was a transit holding camp for 3,000 refugees for the first half of 2000. This response was undertaken using ACT funds received in for the emergency. The amount received in the previous Appeal by the end of the year 1999 was US Dollars 83,247. This amount excludes items donated in kind. ACT funding has provided support in the areas of health, water, sanitation and administration of the response. Other resources used include UNHCR funds and resources and WFP’s support through the provision of food. UNHCR provided basic domestic items, trucks, and funding for various project supplies and activities in the areas of water, sanitation, and logistics and covered costs relating to warehouse management. GRZ provided trucks and assistance from line ministries. Current Situation The month of September 2000 has seen an unprecedented influx of refugees into North Western Zambia through the border points of Mwinilunga, Lwawu, Jimbe, Zambezi and Chavuma. In the first three weeks of the month nearly 2,000 refugees arrived in Zambia, mainly through Zambezi and Chavuma. On Friday 22 September 2000 an influx of 700 refugees through Lwawu was reported. This was followed by a massive influx of an estimated 7,000 refugees in the 4 days between 23 – 26 September mainly through Lwawu, Mwinilunga and Jimbe. The last few days of the month has seen another 700 refugees enter Zambia through Chavuma. The total number of new refugees entering Zambia in September is estimated at 10,400. This high number of new refugees received in one month is unprecedented and is already causing a serious strain on the resources of LWF/ZCRS and its other partners including UNHCR and WFP. This large influx is a result of fierce fighting between the Angolan army and UNITA. The Angolan army entered northeastern Angola from the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC] on 17 September 2000. Government forces overran Cazombo and Luvua districts on 22 September and bombarded Kalunda, reportedly on 23 September 2000. Government forces are reported to have overrun all towns in Moxico Province. The Government forces are reported to be blocking some civilians from crossing the Zambezi River on the most direct route from Cazombo and Luvua to Zambia. Those affected have to divert to a longer route and enter Zambia through Chavuma. The hostilities have led to this massive flight of refugees, the majority of whom are children (50%) and women (30%). The influx is expected to continue with the figures expected to reach 15,000 within the next few weeks. An influx through Kalabo and Lukulu into Mayukwayukwa is also expected in the coming weeks. LWF/ZCRS and UNHCR have negotiated with the Government, local authorities and the local chief for additional land to settle new refugees. An additional 100,000 hectares have been secured for Meheba. Site preparation work to open the land for settlements is currently being carried out by LWF. The need to drill boreholes to provide water remains acute. Emergency Relief to Angolan Refugees 5 AFZA-01 In addition to the wave of newly arriving refugees, there are post-crisis needs for the October 1999 – August 2000 influx already settled in Mayukwayukwa and Meheba. These needs include education for the refugee children and the expansion of health facilities in both Mayukwayukwa and Meheba.