Equateur: UNHCR Rescues Repatriated Congolese Nationals from CAR

20 Jan 2014

Equateur: UNHCR Rescues Repatriated Congolese Nationals from CAR

Zongo, 8 January 2014 – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recently constructed two shelters for Congolese nationals repatriated from the Central African Republic in Zongo, a city located at the far North-western part of the Equateur Province, some 980 km from the provincial capital, Mbandaka.

According to the latest estimates obtained from UNHCR and the Zongo City Council, 3037 Congolese nationals have been officially recorded and repatriated from the Central African Republic following reports of looting and insecurity. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of UNHCR and local authorities, most of these returnees are accommodated with host families. However, several hundreds more still sleep out in the open at the Zongo City Hall. These people need food and medical supplies, shelters or even transportation to the city of Gemena.

Last weekend, Siazo Yeke Yeke, the mayor of Zongo launched an appeal to humanitarian organizations and both provincial and national authorities to provide assistance for these returnees. The sheds provided by UNHCR are therefore the United Nations’ response to the call. It should be noted, however, that the humanitarian assistance provided so far is insufficient to cope with the influx of refugees estimated today at more than 50 000.

As a sign of solidarity with her counterpart in Zongo, the mayor of the city of Mbandaka, Annie Bomboko donated food supplies such as sugar, coffee and tea which were transported to the returnees thanks to logistical support from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

Mrs. Bomboko said she was determined to continue providing such assistance to Congolese nationals returning home after they lost almost everything in the Central African Republic.


Jean-Tobie Okala/MONUSCO