Over the next three weeks, UNHCR plans to repatriate a total of refugees on 12 chartered flights, including the one on Monday. The numbers could change. All of the returnees had said they wished to leave UNHCR-run Zemio and return to their homes in the Ango area because of concerns about the volatile security situation in the Central African Republic. UNHCR has worked with the governments of the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to facilitate the voluntary repatriation to Ango, where the LRA still has a presence but the governments believe the situation is stable enough to allow for return.
The refugees were fully informed about the security situation in return areas before they made a final decision to go back. The feared Ugandan rebel group robbed villagers, looted property, torched homes, kidnapped people, raped women and girls and used the young as child soldiers and sex slaves. Most found shelter in Zemio, a camp run by UNHCR and now hosting 3, refugees, including those who will be going home with the airlift programme.
Since the latest wave of instability began rocking CAR in , at least 2, Congolese refugees have made their way home from Zemio and other parts of CAR. Funding shortages could affect the level of aid at Zemio, which is in a volatile area and difficult to access. The lack of roads makes overland repatriation impossible and the airstrip at Ango has been rehabilitated and extended.
The World Food Programme will give out cash vouchers for food. The refugees will be returning to an area where the weakened LRA has launched sporadic attacks in past months. The last reported incident was in late July.
But the government in Kinshasa has reviewed the security situation and given the green light for the return operation. It continues to spread terror in the region. Subscribe Get updates via Email. Do not fill in this field.
