EU donates 3 million Euro for refugees in Zambia

Brussels- Belgium (PANA) -- The European Union has disbursed 3 million Euro in humanitarian aid to Angolan and Congolese refugees based in Zambia, indicates a news release issued in Brussels Tuesday.
European officials allocated the amount to help Zambian government cope with a new influx of refugees coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola.
Zambia currently hosts 235,000 refugees from Angola and 50,000 from the DRC living in six camps at Kala, Mayukwayukwa, Meheba, Mawange, Nagweshi and Ukwimi.
The EU emergency aid is meant to finance the purchase of daily food rations for distribution to new refugees in the camps.
Part of the grant will be used finance health and water projects as well as the vaccination of children under the age of five in the refugees camps.
In addition, the funds will also help in the repair roads leading to refugees camps.
Mayukwayukwa and Nangweshi refugee camps were almost inaccessible because of the appalling state of bridges.
The EU funds will also be spent works to expand facilities at some of the overcrowded refugee camps.
According to a report by the world Food Programme, 78 percent of refugees need food aid.
The Zambian government has decided to give arable land to enable the refugees to cultivate their own food.
Many of the refugees from Angola are expected to return to their country following the signing of the cease-fire between the Angolan government and the rebel UNITA movement on 4 April.