Spontaneously settled refugees in Northwestern Province, Zambia
Freund, P.J.; Kalumba, K.
International Migration Review 20(2): 299-312
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0197-9183 PMID: 12267853 Document Number: 348636
A socioeconomic survey and census of 'spontaneously settled' Zairean and Angolan refugees in the Northwestern Province of Zambia was recently commissioned by the UNHCR from the University of Zambia. After a brief description of the methodological issues and logistic difficulties of the research, the major results of the survey are presented. The research highlights a number of issues pertaining to the socioeconomic conditions of refugees. It is indicated that the next step after dealing with the safety of refugees is the fulfilment of immediate survival needs. Numerous instances of adult and child malnutrition were observed. General food availability is a problem in most of the areas surveyed; however, it has been exacerbated by the impact that refugees have had on the border areas. It was found that refugees were generally accepted in the host communities and in most cases given assistance by chiefs, headmen and villagers. The strategy of allowing refugees to settle in villages rather than being relocated to resettlement areas is therefore fully recognized and endorsed.