Main objectives

Support the Government of the Republic of the Congo (ROC) in the implementation of national refugee legislation and the establishment of a National Eligibility Commission; support the Government with refugee registration and issuance of legal documents to all refugees in the country; promote local settlement activities and facilitate voluntary repatriation, where feasible, for Angolan refugees from Cabinda; provide humani- tarian assistance to refugees from the (CAR); provide international pro- tection and humanitarian assistance to refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); promote local settlement assistance for urban refugees and ensure access to refugee status deter- mination; undertake reception and reintegration of Congolese returnees, mainly from Gabon and the DRC.

Impact

• Refugee men and women, particularly in Betou, participated in activities in all sectors, showing greater self-sufficiency and helped promote local integration of refugees. Working environment • A total of 51 refugee committees were created to enhance the delivery of assistance in the various The context sectors. A health committee was made respon- sible for recovering medical fees from patients. The socio-political situation in ROC was relatively A parents association contributed to the pay- stable and presidential and legislative elections ment of stipends for 54 teachers in the refugee were organised in the first half of the year. primary schools. Nevertheless, conflict prevailed in some areas and • Some 534 adults (99 per cent women) enrolled in sporadic yet sustained attacks by Ninja rebels in adult literacy classes. The students were highly the Pool region displaced some 80,000 Congolese motivated to acquire new skills, particularly civilians. One of the most serious attacks occurred French language and basic management skills on 14 June 2002, when two military barracks and the for income-generating activities. international airport were attacked in . • As a result of sensitisation campaigns, refugees The persistent conflict had a negative impact on in Betou, Impfondo and Loukolela became more respect for human rights in general and, in particular, aware of their rights. Complaints were lodged the living conditions of the displaced persons from against security officials and others in authority the Pool region. The economy suffered as a result who violated refugee rights. Redress was sought of the conflict and fuel shortages became frequent in 387 cases of domestic violence. in the capital.

128 UNHCR Global Report 2002 of thecountry. phases (precautions) inBrazzavilleandotherparts revised andlowered theUNSECOORDsecurity foster confidenceinthepoliticalprocess, theUN tions were madeforaresolution ofthecrisis.To region heldameetingduringwhichrecommenda- for peace,andinNovember, residents from thePool tarily. rebels, however, only400rebels surrendered volun- the Poolcrisis,includinganoffer ofamnestytoall The Governmenttookseveralmeasures toresolve due tonavigationaldifficulties. Almost 30percent porarily suspendedinLoukolelaandImpfondo low fornavigationandfoodaidhadtobetem- either floodeditsbanksorthewaterlevelwastoo hazards inthedeliveryofassistance.Theriver swamps inthearea posedseriousgeographical tection activities.Inaddition,thedenseforests and implementing, ormonitoring,assistanceandpro- goods from placetointhenormalcourseof and sometimesimpossible,tomovestaff and from theDRCandROC.Itwastherefore difficult, cure asaresult ofthepresence ofarmedforces along theOubanguiriver. Thewholearea wasinse- refugees were residing inmore than50locations straint facedbyUNHCRin2002.Over80,000 As inprevious years,securitywasthemajorcon- Constraints slmsees270-1 - 40 41 40 - 61 19 39 42 52 - 1,720 51 - 30 1,710 1,720 78,100 613 2,760 5,990 17,700 83,500 613 from Gabon,DRCandelsewhere Returnees CAR (Refugees) Asylum-seekers Rwanda (Refugees) Angola (Refugees) DRC (Refugees) anOii oa O hmPrcn Per cent Percent under18 2 1 Ofwhom Female UNHCRassisted Total InCountry Type ofPopulation Main Origin/ The abovefigures donotincludecostsatHeadquarters. Includes allocationsbyUNHCRfrom unearmarkedorbroadly earma Includes incomefrom contributionsrestricted atthecountryle eie ugtContributions Revised Budget The NationalParliamentsetupacommittee ,7,2 ,0,3 ,9,3 ,9,6 6,897,566 6,897,566 4,591,734 2,305,832 7,471,927 noefo te ud oa ud Total Total Funds Other Funds Income from Income andExpenditure(USD) Annual ProgrammeBudget 1 Persons ofConcern vel. rked contributions,openingbalanceandadjustments. Available achieve self-sufficiency infoodproduction. tivation. Thismadeitdifficult fortherefugees to did notgrantrefugees accesstoarablelandforcul- communities were cordial, thelocalcommunity Although relations betweenrefugees andthehost Impfondo andLoukolela. and deployingstaff inthefieldlocationsofBetou, activities. UNHCRfacedproblems inidentifying tinue minimalmonitoringandimplementationof of thebudgetwasusedtohire anaircraft tocon- conditions inBetouandLoukolela. also difficult toimprove staff welfare andworking required logisticalsupporttofieldlocations.Itwas Loukolela. Fundswere insufficient toprovide the and theconstruction ofthenewlandingstripin to suspendthepaymentofsalaries54teachers assistance torefugees in2002.InBetou,UNHCRhad Budget reductions adverselyaffected thedeliveryof Funding 81,568 received materialassistance.51percentof Of the111,670 personsofconcern toUNHCR, Protection anddurablesolutions Achievements andimpact 2 vial Expenditure Available UNHCR GlobalReport 2002 129

Republic of the Congo ce received fi National Commission for Refugee Assistance, and Assistance, Refugee Commission for National in created Committees, Appeal and the Eligibility requests asylum 2001, began analysing December of 2002. at the end Pointe census in out a refugee UNHCR carried in 2002. Loukolela (Loukolela town) and Noire in Pointe- registered were Angolan refugees 1,548 of in Loukolela. The census and 2,840 Noire Impfondo and Loukolela settled in Betou, refugees in 2003. will be completed Angola and UNHCR of ROC, The Governments repa- on the voluntary agreement signed a tripartite December 2002. on 11 Angolan refugees of triation will commence in June 2003, repatriation Voluntary of after the rainy season. Meanwhile, the the Gabon, 315 from from 266 Congolese returnees The persistent insecu- elsewhere. DRC and 32 from the precluded of return in the areas rity prevailing UNHCR / B. Garden rtificates to refugees in the rural areas. in the rural rtificates to refugees UNHCR Global Report 2002 130 Unaccompanied minors from Rwanda living in Ndjoundou camp. Unaccompanied minors from The Government is yet to adopt national refugee The Government is yet to adopt national struc- legislation; nevertheless, it created and asylum issues. The to handle all refugee tures While refugees from the DRC had good relations the DRC had from While refugees the Rwandan refugees with their host communities, occasions, On several difficulty. experienced some with the local authorities UNHCR had to intervene and per- all refugees that they protected to ensure sons of concern on Congolese territory. the refugee population were women. Refugees in women. population were the refugee of security than a higher level enjoyed urban areas and urban refugees Generally, areas. rural those in of freedom allowed greater were asylum-seekers documenta- and obtained identification movement By contrast, quickly. the authorities more tion from often were areas rural in refugees To fines and assaults. arrest, exposed to arbitrary pro- UNHCR advocated the these problems, resolve vision of ce

Republic of the Congo others. Loukolela, topromote better understandingof campaigns willbecarriedoutinBetouand collaboration withthelocalauthorities.Similar turally sens some fairlysuccessfulsensitisationcampaigns(cul- local population.InImpfondo,UNHCRcarriedout some ofthesitesbecauseresistance from the Refugees haddifficulties inaccessingfarmlandat seedlings. tained onecutlass,hoe,axeand50kilosof also benefitedfrom thisdonation.Eachkitcon- Loukolela. 1,025villagers,including143pygmies FAO were distributedtorefugees inImpfondoand 5,000 farmingtoolkitsandseedlingsprovided by production activitieswere notadequatelypursued. partner staff. tional protection forUNHCRandimplementing and Gender-based Violence (SGBV)andinterna- in Sweden.Seminarswere conductedonSexual to Canada,sevenintheUSA,12Denmarkand16 totalof41refugees were resettled: six Rwanda. A seven unaccompaniedminorswere repatriated to bouring countries.30Rwandanrefugees, including repatriation ofCongoleserefugees from theneigh- Overall, some4,500individuals inBrazzavilleand and cashallowancesto cover subsistenceneeds. urban refugees in Brazzavillereceived domesticitems Domestic needs/household support: Crop production: Community services: Activities andassistance with theirfamilies. unaccompanied minorswere successfullyreunited and dialoguetoprevent childexploitation.30 Regular visitsallowedforadequatemonitoring with fosterparents inBrazzavilleandrefugee sites. nied RwandanandDRCminorsbyplacingthem The Office ensured thewelfare of212unaccompa- women inthehealthcentres. three camps.Sanitarykitswere distributedto3,076 Some 256pygmiesbenefitedfrom theproject inthe dressmaking, soapmakingandknittingenterprises. families (i.e.3,679people)withmicro loanstosetup itive publicinformationcampaigns)in Due tofinancialconstraints,crop UNHCR assisted736refugee Some 1,238 sons successfullycompletedtheacademicyear. professional orvocationaltraining.Some141per- attended primaryorsecondaryschoolreceived In theurbanareas, 245refugees (78ofthemgirls) ondary educationforrefugees. There wasahugedemandfortheprovision ofsec- number ofschoolsintherefugee siteswas55. tion tosixrefurbished existingschools.Thetotal received twonewsix-classroom schools,inaddi- new eight-classroom school,whiletheBetoucamp Impfondo andLoukolelacampseachreceived one Four newschoolswere constructed in2002. 90 percentpassrate. candidates sattheexaminationsinJuly2002witha totalof811 refugees inthecampprimaryschools. A organisation oftheend-of-yearexaminationfor The MinistryofNationalEducationapproved the school enrolment infuture. met; greater efforts willbemadetoraiseprimary only 70percentofeducationalneedswere being school-aged children. Thissurveysuggeststhat UNHCR assisted5,376outofapotential7,238 aged discrepancy betweenthenumberofpotentialschool- surveyinBetoushoweda was 41:1onaverage. A With atotalof334teachers,theteacher:pupilratio education for13,790children (7,024ofthemgirls). This assistancetargeted themostneedyfamilies. fited from thedistributionofbasicdomesticitems. assisted. InBetou,15,000refugees in28sitesbene- Pointe-Noire from thetotalurbanpopulationwere Education: Forestry: Food: adverse impactontheenvironment inKondi-Mbaka caused byintensivecoalproduction andtheresulting malnutrition. moderate malnutritionandthree casesofsevere surveys ofthispopulationrevealed only25casesof refugees inLoukolelaandImpfondo.Nutrition distributed1,550tonsoffoodrationsto55,000 WFP obtaining individualaccommodationinBrazzaville. food assistance.Thisgroup wasalsoassisted in rary facilityprovided by theGovernmentreceived to Brazzavillein2001,andwere livingin a tempo- children andactualattendance.InBetou, Some 306urbanrefugees from CARwhofled In order toaddress the deforestation In thecamps,UNHCRorganised primary UNHCR GlobalReport 2002 131

Republic of the Congo when Refugee shelters were Some 415 tons of various paigns on personal hygiene, the preven- personal hygiene, paigns on Despite the challenging technical and phys- Despite the challenging technical and huts of similar fabrication to the local housing. A to the local housing. huts of similar fabrication assistance received few vulnerable families by wind and rain. destroyed their houses were items, including school kits, tools, non-food items items, including school kits, tools, Brazzaville to field transported from and fuel were Impfondo. The locations in Loukolela, Betou and and two of road five kilometres rehabilitated Office of bridges in Loukolela to facilitate transportation of the Betou the rehabilitation goods. However, to financial con- airstrip was not completed due straints. Management in Brazzaville super- The UNHCR Liaison Office in Betou, Impfondo, field offices vised three Loukolela and was under the overall supervision 13 inter- were in DRC. There of the Regional Office national and 60 national staff. Water: Water: Organisation and implementation Shelter/other infrastructure: Shelter/other infrastructure: Transport/logistics: revealed a ratio of one latrine to 12 persons (better ratio of one latrine a revealed for 25 persons). of one latrine standard than the the sensi- benefited from participants Some 43,081 tisation cam tion disposal of waste the management of diarrhoea, In of a clean environment. and the maintenance camp, 42 latrines and 24 bath- Loukolela refugee constructed. were rooms ical environment associated with the high water associated with ical environment of the quality made to control were table, efforts in all the field potable water distributed to refugees of standard the minimum locations. Unfortunately, per day could not be of water per refugee 17 litres daily consumption in Loukolela was Average met. 13 wells In Betou, per person, per day. 10 litres, for a population or rehabilitated constructed were of 30,000. Refugees and the local population con- of and rehabilitation tributed to the construction the wells by supplying sand and gravel. Some 30 clean established to ensure water committees were conflicts and collect funds resolve surroundings, of disinfectants and water con- for the purchase tainers. Various office Various Five training sessions were or- Five training sessions were UNHCR evaluated the recon- UNHCR evaluated Over 1,500 Angolan refugees were Angolan refugees Over 1,500 A built in total of 183 public latrines were then requested finance for micro-projects. then requested cial identity documents will be issued to all fi UNHCR Global Report 2002 government counterparts and implementing nanced 25 projects, including 13 run by female run including 13 nanced 25 projects, fi equipment and stationary supplies were made avail- equipment and stationary supplies were able to to partners. Financial support was also provided law and working partners for training on refugee issues. related ganised for refugees to give them the skills to start to give them ganised for refugees the 190 partici- up and manage small businesses. Of pants, 45 struction of the existing health posts to make them of the struction at treated Over 80,622 patients were effective. more the With camps. in the three the health facilities of 12 health committees in Betou, the refu- creation in the delivery gee community began to participate Aof health services. scheme, at the cost recovery rate of CFA 100 francs (in view of exchange rate cents) per con- USD 20 fluctuations, approximately, all except the most for sultation, was introduced for 36 per vulnerable patients. Malaria accounted cent of all cases treated. 132 Sanitation: schools, public schools, health posts various refugee technical After receiving and local markets in Betou. by them- 804 latrines constructed training, refugees Aselves. survey undertaken in May 2002 in Betou Operational support (to agencies): registered refugees by government authorities in 2003. refugees registered Legal assistance: Using well-established criteria, the committee selected Using well-established criteria, the committee and heads of families. It must be noted that the socio- heads of families. It must be noted very few opportu- offered economic environment for refugees. self-sufficiency nities to promote Income generation: Health/nutrition: Health/nutrition: and Komi where Angolan refugees settled, some settled, refugees Angolan where and Komi planted. This were plants 3,150 fruit-bearing sup- with the technical was implemented measure environment-awareness after engineer, port of an The the refugees. undertaken for were campaigns was also a means of generating sale of the fruits other few relatively were there some income, as their to supplement the refugees opportunities for livelihood. registered in Pointe-Noire and 2,840 refugees from and 2,840 refugees in Pointe-Noire registered in Loukolela CAR and DRC have been registered ville. Of

Republic of the Congo Working withOthers protracted politicaldifficulties. longed exilefrom countriesoforigincaught upin of self-sufficiency amongrefugees facingpro- improvements wouldengenderaminimumlevel of agriculture andincomegeneration. Such there is room forfuture improvement inthesectors health, education,waterandsanitation.However, needs ofrefugees were addressed intheareas of Despite budgetaryandlogisticalconstraints,the return in 2003. ROC andUNHCRwillallow Angolan refugees to 2002 betweentheGovernmentsof Angola and The Tripartite Agreement signedon11 December will beacceleratedin2003,toreduce thebacklog. examined. Theexaminationofasylumrequests activities attheendof2002,andfewcaseswere The Eligibilityand Appeal Board onlystartedits tions. local authoritiesmettheirinternationalobliga- UNHCR wasabletointerveneensure thatthe Refugees intherural areas facedsomeabuses,but for refugees andasylum-seekersintheurbanareas. of concern.Internationalprotection wasimproved ing totheprotection ofrefugees andotherpersons UNHCR didnotencountermajorproblems relat- Overall assessment refugees according toitsmandate. out theyearaseachagencyprovided assistanceto WFP, UNICEFandFAO wasmaintainedthrough- refugees. CollaborationwithUNagenciessuchas ities andprovide humanitarianassistancefor with NGOpartnerstocarryouttheplannedactiv- Eligibility Commission,theOffice workedclosely Committee forRefugee Assistance andthe In additiontoworkingwiththeNational Deutsche Gesellschaftf Others Commission RescueCommittee International NGOs National CommitteeforRefugeeAssistance Agencies Government Loukolela Impfondo Betou Brazzaville é piscopale pourlesmigrantsetr UNHCR GlobalReport 2002 ü r Technische Zusammenarbeit Partners Offices é fugi é s 133

Republic of the Congo Projects notes ’ Annual Programme Budget Annual Programme s Projects notes Prior Years ’ Financial Report (USD) Financial UNHCR Global Report 2002 Figures which cross-reference to Accounts: which cross-reference Figures (1) Annex to Statement 1 (3) Schedule 3 (5) Schedule 5 CancellationsOutstanding 31 December 379,374 (3) 0 0 95,755 (5) New ObligationsDisbursements 6,897,566 6,518,192 (1) (3) 509,775 0 (5) Unliquidated Obligations Outstanding 1st January 0 605,529 (5) Refunded to UNHCR AdjustmentCurrency Outstanding 31 December 2,097,260 0 0 14,705 21,096 (242) Reporting ReceivedBalanceOutstanding 1st January 416,144 0 2,097,260 2,017,159 1,214,096 (1,178,053) Instalments with Implementing Partners Payments Made 2,513,404 839,105 Unliquidated ObligationsTotal 379,374 (3) 6,897,566 (1) (3) 0 509,775 Sub-total Operational Support Programme Sub-total Disbursements/Deliveries 6,518,192 4,524,113 (3) 1,994,079 509,775 507,450 (5) 2,325 Transport/Logistics2,061 Water Instalments with Implementing Partners 2,097,260 19,853 690,418 (1,178,053) 606,173 SanitationShelter/Other Infrastructure 11,984 0 6,689 20,273 Income GenerationLegal Assistance Agencies)Operational Support (to 211,890 17,538 26,676 382,743 3,257 60,198 EducationForestryHealth/Nutrition 85,792 90,848 4,588 205,079 160,468 0 Community ServicesCommunity ProductionCrop SupportDomestic Needs/Household 48,490 58,613 14,745 63,324 132,118 3,937 Protection, Monitoring and Co-ordination Monitoring Protection, 1,163,209 21,394 Expenditure BreakdownExpenditure Year Current 134

Republic of the Congo