UNHCR Zambia - ZAMCO

07/08/2026

On Thursday, 6 August 2026, Mr. Gabriel Katende, Senior Operations Officer at the UNHCR Zambia Multi-Country Office, conducted a field visit to the Makeni Transit Centre in Lusaka. During the visit, the team met with the Senior Refugee Officer from the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees (COR), alongside other colleagues, to review the range of services provided at the Centre, with particular emphasis on protection and health.

At the time of the visit, the Transit Centre was hosting 127 refugees and asylum-seekers, many of whom had been referred due to protection concerns or medical needs. The team also engaged directly with residents to gain deeper insights into their protection challenges and healthcare requirements.

The mission included a meeting with the Sister-in-Charge of the Health Post at the Centre, where the team reaffirmed the importance of the strong partnership between UNHCR and the Zambia Ministry of Health in delivering essential healthcare services to forcibly displaced persons and surrounding host communities. Discussions highlighted key operational challenges facing the clinic, while also observing the use of medical equipment and supplies donated by the People’s Republic of China through the China Medical Team to Zambia during the Health Outreach Programme in June.

The Sister-in-Charge expressed appreciation for the continued support provided by UNHCR and its partners, noting the critical role of sustained collaboration in strengthening healthcare delivery and improving the well-being of both displaced and host populations.

The team further met with representatives from Caritas Czech Republic (CCR) to discuss ongoing activities and strengthen coordination at the Transit Centre.

04/08/2026

NOTICE

Kindly use these following details for any contact with UNHCR Zambia, based on
the specific refugee settlement you are registered in:
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■For General Protection
(Child Protection, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, Education, Resettlement and other Durable Solutions)

• Solwezi/Meheba Refugee Settlement
Protection Solwezi Helpline: +260777234930
Languages: English, French and Swahili available upon Request
Operating Hours: Thursday, 13:00 – 17:00, except holidays
Mailbox: [email protected]

• Kaoma/Mayukwayukwa Refugee Settlement
Protection Mayukwayukwa Helpline: +260970067527
Languages: English and Nyanja
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00 – 17:00, except holidays
Mailbox: [email protected]

• Kawambwa/Mantapala Refugee Settlement
Protection Mantapala Helpline: +2609779328789
Languages: English, Nyanja and Bemba
Operating Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 08:30 – 12:00, except holidays
Mailbox: [email protected]

• Lusaka
Protection Lusaka Helpline: +260977300375
Languages: English, French available upon Request
Operating Hours: Wednesday, 08:30 – 12:00, except holidays
Mailbox: [email protected]

• Anti-Fraud
Anti-Fraud Helpline: +260977425242
Language: English
Operating Hours: Wednesday, 08:30 – 12:30 except holidays
Mailbox: [email protected]

You are welcome to contact our partner on general protection issues as well:
• Lifeline Childline Zambia
Language: English, Nyanja, Bemba, French, Swahili
Childline: 116 (toll free)
Lifeline: 933 (toll free)
Operating Hours: 24/7

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Individuals calling UNHCR helpline(s), or, writing to functional mailbox(es), or, visiting
UNHCR office(s) should provide their Individual ID Number for identification.

30/07/2026

Heads of UN Agencies and the UN Resident Coordinator during the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) meeting hosted by UNHCR Zambia Multi-Country Office (ZAMCO) in Lusaka.

Chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator, the strategic meeting brought together UN leadership to strengthen coordination, align joint priorities, and enhance collective support to the Government of Zambia through the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). Discussions focused on accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Agenda 2063, Vision 2030, and the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP), while contributing to the formulation of the Ninth National Development Plan (9NDP) and advancing multi-hazard contingency planning to support government preparedness and emergency response.

30/07/2026

Graziella Ioele
As a staff member at UNHCR in Zambia focused on durable solutions, I view the 1951 Refugee Convention as a reflection of our shared humanity. It embodies our commitment to ensuring that those forced to flee due to conflict or violence receive protection, dignity, and opportunities to rebuild their lives.
In my daily encounters, I witness the challenges faced by individuals whose lives have been disrupted by circumstances beyond their control. Each durable solution represents more than an outcome—it represents a pathway toward stability, self-reliance, and a future beyond displacement. The Convention guides us to ensure that refugees are supported not only in finding safety, but also in accessing opportunities that allow them to move forward with dignity and hope.
As we mark the 75th anniversary of the Convention under the theme “Until Everyone is Safe,” we acknowledge its continued relevance. Despite progress, millions of refugees around the world still face uncertainty and barriers to finding lasting solutions.
This anniversary calls us to reaffirm our commitment to refugee protection principles and to strengthen the partnerships and systems that make durable solutions possible. Ultimately, our mission is clear: we will not rest until every refugee is safe, protected, and has the opportunity to achieve a dignified and sustainable future. This is the promise of the Refugee Convention, and it is one we must uphold every day.

30/07/2026

Graziella Ioele

As a staff member at UNHCR in Zambia focused on durable solutions, I view the 1951 Refugee Convention as a reflection of our shared humanity. It embodies our commitment to ensuring that those forced to flee due to conflict or violence receive protection, dignity, and opportunities to rebuild their lives.
In my daily encounters, I witness the challenges faced by individuals whose lives have been disrupted by circumstances beyond their control. Each durable solution represents more than an outcome—it represents a pathway toward stability, self-reliance, and a future beyond displacement. The Convention guides us to ensure that refugees are supported not only in finding safety, but also in accessing opportunities that allow them to move forward with dignity and hope.
As we mark the 75th anniversary of the Convention under the theme “Until Everyone is Safe,” we acknowledge its continued relevance. Despite progress, millions of refugees around the world still face uncertainty and barriers to finding lasting solutions.
This anniversary calls us to reaffirm our commitment to refugee protection principles and to strengthen the partnerships and systems that make durable solutions possible. Ultimately, our mission is clear: we will not rest until every refugee is safe, protected, and has the opportunity to achieve a dignified and sustainable future. This is the promise of the Refugee Convention, and it is one we must uphold every day.

29/07/2026

A joint workshop between the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE-FLIA) and UNHCR Zambia Multi-Country Office (ZAMCO) was held on 28 July 2026 at Quorum in Lusaka. The workshop aimed to lay the foundation for a long-term partnership between the two institutions to generate robust evidence that can inform refugee policy and programming across the region.

Dr Sophie Mylan and Stephanie Perham, representing LSE-FLIA and UNHCR ZAMCO respectively, delivered welcome remarks, highlighting their organisations’ work and shared areas of collaboration. The event convened participants from government, academia, and development partners to explore the impacts of refugee inclusion, with a particular focus on economic growth, livelihoods, and health outcomes.

29/07/2026

Mama Francine’s Turning Point: Farming Beyond the Seasons

In Tongogara Refugee Settlement, Mama Francine’s 0.2-hectare plot reflects resilience and transformation. A Person of Concern (POC) and foster parent to three children, she has long relied on farming maize and NUA 45 sugar beans to feed her family and maintain dignity.

For years, her livelihood depended on seasonal harvests, making income unpredictable amid fluctuating markets. “I used to depend only on two seasons,” she recalls. “It was difficult to plan beyond that.”

With support from a pilot initiative funded by the United States Government through World Vision in Zimbabwe, Mama Francine embraced a new opportunity—integrating chilli pepper production alongside her staple crops. This marked a turning point. By diversifying, she is now working toward continuous production cycles beyond a single harvest season.

Maize and beans continue to provide essential nutrition, while chilli pepper introduces a high-value crop with income potential. “Now I am learning that farming can give money in many ways,” she says, “from planting, harvesting, and even selling different products throughout the year.”

Today, Mama Francine plans labour more strategically, manages soil more effectively, and engages markets with confidence—turning a small plot into a pathway for year-round resilience and opportunity.

29/07/2026

United States Government Support Powers Resilience in Tongogara through fish farming





In Tongogara Refugee Settlement, the Samakuni Fish Farming Group is turning adversity into opportunity—thanks to the support of the United States Government, channelled through World Vision United States (WVUS).
Formed in 2020 by 10 refugees—five women and five men—the group began their aquaculture journey during the COVID-19 pandemic, when supply chain disruptions severely limited access to feed and fingerlings. Their progress stalled, and their enterprise faced collapse.
Timely funding from the United States Government enabled WVUS to provide 4,000 fingerlings and starter packs, reviving the group’s operations. Yet challenges persisted. Disease claimed 860 fingerlings, and in a single रात, 1,780 were stolen. Undeterred, the group strengthened security by hiring a night guard and continued production.
Their determination paid off. From the remaining stock, they harvested 1,360 fish—194.25 kilograms—generating USD 777 at USD 4 per kilogram. Demonstrating strong financial discipline, the group reinvested USD 750 into a motorbike, now leased to a local rider. This initiative provides steady weekly income, creates employment, and improves transport services within the settlement.





With continued support, the group scaled up to 8,000 fingerlings in their second cycle. WVUS supplied feed across all growth stages, while AGRITEX and the Ministry of Women Affairs delivered training in aquaculture techniques, financial management, and governance—strengthening productivity and empowering women’s leadership.
Despite ongoing challenges such as seasonal water scarcity, Samakuni is exploring sustainable solutions, including improved water access through a proposed sand abstraction project.
This initiative highlights the tangible impact of United States Government support—enabling refugee-led enterprises to recover, grow, and build sustainable livelihoods. Samakuni’s journey stands as a testament to what targeted investment and community resilience can achieve.

28/07/2026

https://www.local10.com/news/world/2026/07/28/6-refugees-speak-out-as-un-backed-treaty-to-help-people-fleeing-war-and-persecution-marks-75-years/

GENEVA (AP) — Tuesday marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, which was born after the ravages of World War II to help people fleeing war, violence and persecution. Proponents say the treaty has saved millions of lives.

28/07/2026

https://www.unhcr.org/media/until-everyone-safe-promise