Danish emergency funding to UNHCR boost lifesaving support for 30,000 DRC refugees in Angola

In northern Angola, 300-500 refugees arrive on a daily basis fleeing violent attacks in the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The conflict has so far displaced 1.3 million civilians, with over 30,000 Congolese arriving in desperate conditions to find refuge in neighbouring Angola.

By Katrine Steingrimsen, UNHCR Stockholm - English translation by Elisabeth Arnsdorf Haslund  |  24.07.2017

In northern Angola, 300-500 refugees arrive on a daily basis fleeing violent attacks in the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The conflict has so far displaced 1.3 million civilians, with over 30,000 Congolese arriving in desperate conditions to find refuge in neighbouring Angola.

Women and children are arriving with severe wounds and reporting harassment, rape and killings. The Congolese refugees, of which the majority are women and children, are in urgent need of medical and psychological treatment, protection, shelter, food and basic items.

‘Allocations from Denmark’s Emergency Fund enables UNHCR to boost responses to refugee emergencies worldwide, save lives and assist uprooted people with critical protection needs and provide core relief items. With USD 1 million extracted from the Emergency Fund, UNHCR can strengthen the underfunded humanitarian response to Congolese refugees who have escaped violence seeking protection, shelter and food in Angola’, says UNHCR Regional Representative for Northern Europe, Pia Prytz Phiri.

UNHCR commends the Angolan government for keeping its borders open, allowing UNHCR unhindered access to formal and informal border crossing points. UNHCR has set up joint emergency coordination mechanisms with the Angolan authorities to deliver life-saving assistance, together with other UN agencies and partners on the ground, as well as undertaking preparations should the situation to deteriorate further.

Current estimates predicts 50,000 arrivals from DRC by the end of 2017. Conditions in the reception centers in Angola’s province Lunda Norte are extremely poor and over-crowded. Many children are suffering from fever and malaria, as well as other tropical diseases. The water and sanitation situation in reception centers is below emergency standards.

Danish emergency funding totalling USD 1 million will be used to respond to priority needs including; strengthen the overall protection of the refugees, provide shelter and essential non-food relief items, scale up health and nutrition screening services, expand referral mechanisms and nutrition treatment monitoring, ensure biometric registration, expand water, sanitation and hygiene services (WASH), support victims of sexual and gender based violence and enable future enrolment of refugee children in formal education.

UNHCR is appealing for USD 102.5 million for the Congolese Situation – Angola response covering needs from January to December 2017 for some 1.3 million displaced persons. The appeal is severely underfunded with only 9% of the requirements received. For the response in Angola only 19% has been received, leaving a gap of some USD 29.6 M.

Denmark as a donor to UNHCR

Denmark contributes with an Emergency Reserve Fund of DKK 50.5 million (USD 7.2 million) at the start of every year, which UNHCR can allocate to where the needs are most urgent. The flexibility of the fund allows UNHCR to respond to emergencies which saves lives and assists displaced people with critical protection needs and acute basic necessities.

Denmark has long ranked among UNHCR’s top ten donors, and was UNHCR’s 9th donor in 2016. In addition to the Emergency Reserve Fund, Denmark’s other flexible contribution includes DKK 160 million in unearmarked funding, which is of vital importance to support amongst other so-called “forgotten” refugee situations which are critically underfunded, as they attract minimal public attention.