Meheba (Zambia): assistance for the vulnerable people delayed by seven months

Refugees in the most vulnerable category at Meheba camp in Zambia are sounding the alarm as they deplore their specific assistance has not yet been released since the early this year.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

There are estimated at more than 2,500 refugees who normally benefit from special assistance reserved for the most vulnerable. These include orphans, those suffering from chronic illnesses, the elderly (60 years and over), unaccompanied minors and people living with acute disabilities.

The last distributed aid dates back to the end of 2023.

“The UNHCR did well to celebrate the Nativity and the New Year with us, but what is shameful is that this was our last assistance. For the moment, we are unhappy, we have nothing to eat,” those affected complain

Usually, UNHCR in collaboration with the Zambian government gives them monthly assistance of 280 kwaca (Zambian shilling), approximately 10.80 USD each.

In this Meheba camp, no other refugees receive help. Its occupants mainly live from agriculture, the camp having been placed under social reintegration status for several years.

“For this group, it’s a disaster because many of them do not have strength to rely on agriculture or other income-generating activities such as small business. They also cannot go and do daily and rural work among the host populations. So, they really need this assistance,” pleads a community leader.

The most vulnerable in Meheba rely on churches, Christian communities and other refugees at harvest time. But goodwill has decreased in intensity among the latter due to the high cost of living and the weather conditions which have had harmful consequences on the harvest this year.

“Everyone seems to care about their own with the small production we had, the situation is not easy here at the moment, everyone needs emergency help,” suggested a Burundian refugee.

The vulnerable who request assistance are of several nationalities. They are Burundians, Somalis, Congolese, Sudanese, Rwandans, Eritreans and even Ethiopians.

They contacted the camp administration, which agreed to plead for them, while asking them to be patient.

Meheba has more than 35,000 refugees, including more than 3,000 Burundians.

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Refugees waiting to be served by Brave Heart, a non-governmental organization at the Meheba refugee camp in Zambia (SOS Médias Burundi)