By Godfrey Olukya
ARU, Democratic Republic of Congo (AA) – UN airlifted aid for Congolese refugees in Angola who fled from the clashes in their country, UNHCR said in a statement on Sunday.
At least 11,000 people fled from Democratic Republic of Congo to Angola in the past few weeks following clashes between Kamuina Nsapu militiamen and government security forces, killing over 400 people.
Angola is currently hosting 25,000 Congolese refugees, according to UNHCR figures.
”A plane carrying relief items has arrived in Luanda, Angola, to assist over 11,000 people who fled a recent surge of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” the UN refugee agency said.
The aircraft departed from Dubai, carrying 3,500 plastic sheets as well as 100 plastic rolls to provide shelter during the rainy season, 17,000 sleeping mats, 16,902 thermal fleece blankets, 8,000 mosquito nets, 3,640 kitchen sets, 8,000 jerry cans and 4,000 plastic buckets.
“UNHCR is also procuring food locally to support the most vulnerable persons including children, pregnant women and elderly,” said Sharon Cooper, UNHCR Regional Representative for Southern Africa, in a press release.
Recently, over one million Congolese in Kasai region are internally displaced, and 730,000 of them are in dire need of aid, according to UN.
