EU gives Zambia 1.23 mln USD for DRC refugees

LUSAKA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) has given Zambia 1 million euros (1.23 million U.S. dollars) to help the country in providing social services to refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The EU said it decided to allocate the funds after a fact-finding mission to Kenani Transit Center in Nchelenge district in Luapula Province, a temporary center where over 15,000 DRC refugees were being kept, revealed a need for humanitarian assistance.

In a statement, the EU said the funds will be used to improve the water and sanitation situation as well as education facilities at a newly opened permanent refugee camp in the same district which were seriously under-funded.

While commending Zambia over its efforts to accommodate thousands of refugees from the DRC, the EU added that there was an evident need of protection and assistance required.

"The European Union has been analyzing the situation in close consultation with the government of Zambia and the UN system," the statement said.

It added that three EU member states have already made specific humanitarian contributions to help the government tackle the refugee situation.

Meanwhile, the EU has given Zambia a further 5 million euros to help the country in wildlife conservation and biodiversity.

The funds will help the country improve anti-poaching and sustainable management and wildlife law enforcement as well as compatible land use in community lands near rivers. Enditem