Durable Solutions

When discussing a protracted refugee situation, its always important to keep in mind the three durable solutions. UNHCR describes these durable solutions as a.)repatriation, b.) local integration, or c.) resettlement to a third country.

These each have their own merits, but according to UNHCR the most favourable is repatriation. In this solution lies an acknowledgment that the home country is safe enough for return and a hope that these refugees will be able to play a key role in rebuilding their war-torn country upon their return. There are tri-party talks between the home country, the host country and UNHCR to agree on the logistics and numbers of repatriating refugees and to give assistance to returnees. Repatriation amongst Angolan refugees in Meheba has been almost non-existent for the past few years, but for some reason has considerably picked up this year. Already over 800 people have repatriated this year and UNHCR says they are on course for repatriating nearly 1,500 by the end of December. Its exciting to see this spontaneous movement of people back to their home countries. When the first trucks left Meheba we heard cheering and yelling along the sides of the roads as the trucks drove past bursting with excited returnees bound for Angola. A refugee is stateless; a returnee is granted full privileges and rights as a citizen of their country. A refugee, at least in Zambia, is restricted in their movement and ability to do commerce outside of the camp; a returnee has freedom of movement, the right to a passport, and the opportunity to pursue careers wherever they please. I can only imagine what it must be like to turn in your refugee card and receive your citizenship again. What must it feel like after twenty years in exile to regain an identity in the country you fled? To finally have rights and privileges and to be able to relinquish the title of “refugee”? Next week, I hope I get a glimpse of that. Jeremy and I have been given the chance to accompany a repatriation convoy to the Angolan boarder. At this boarder their lives will change. Some of these people will be setting foot in their “home country” for the first time, having been born in Meheba yet dubbed Angolan refugees. Others will cross an invisible line that has been uncross-able for them for over thirty years.

As a refugee, you are not allowed to return to your home country without giving up your refugee status, even just for a short visit to assess the conditions for return or to pop over the boarder to do business. By returning to your country you are “choosing to avail yourself of the protection of your home government” and thus acknowledge that you no longer need the protection of the UN. This protection has been called into question as the number of Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) camps grow in many countries where the government is neither able nor willing to protect all of their citizens even within their own boarders.

This same lack of protection, or felt lack of protection, from their home countries contributes to the unwillingness or inability of many people to ever return. In this case, UNHCR looks to the other two durable solutions: resettlement or local integration. In Zambia it seems that local integration is not an option. While many of the Angolan refugees in Meheba have lived in Zambia all their lives, speak the local languages, and even look like the local population, Zambia has been unwilling to explore the idea of nationalizing these refugees and allowing them to stay and live as Zambians. With upwards of 84% unemployment in this region, its not altogether hard to understand.

Many of the Congolese and Rwandese refugees are holding out for the third durable solution, resettlement. This is the topic of constant conversation in the camp. I have never heard a Rwandese express a desire for repatriation, and its rare in the Congolese community as well. It seems someone is always trying to get resettlement, just finding out about interviews for resettlement, going to IOM for health checks, or waiting for a plane ticket. While I know of several people who have been resettled or are waiting for resettlement, I’ve yet to see a group leave from Meheba. Resettlement is a delicate and long process and there are no guarantees. While many people look at being resettled as the end-all-be-all, I’ve known people who work with resettled refugees in the States and comment on how difficult it is to start a new life there. While there are NGOs that work to help resettled refugees find jobs and housing, its not easy and the phobias of the surrounding community can sometimes be severe. Many refugees are resettled to places such as Norway or Alaska, which have very different climates to say the least.

While the Congolese refugees in Meheba don’t seem to be interested in repatriation, that’s not the case in other camps around Zambia. Many of you may recall my early posts mentioning Sara, that we trained with in Oakland and who works for FORGE in Kala Camp in Lulapula Province. Since our arrival here four months ago, the size of Kala has dropped by 60% with repatriating Congolese. The other camp in Northern Province where FORGE operates, Mwange, has seen similar repatriation and is scheduled to close entirely in December of this year. For this reason, FORGE has decided to open a new office in Moba, Democratic Republic of Congo. You can read all about the efforts on the FORGE website. Sara will be moving to Moba to work in January and to start FORGE projects amongst the returnee community there. I think this is an exciting new chapter for FORGE and will look on in eager anticipation.