Situation of Refugees, Asylum Seekers in Angola “one of the best”: Catholic Official in World Refugee Day Message

“The granting, since last year, of documents to refugees in Lunda-Norte and the sharing of resources (medical assistance, food and shelter) by the government has been a great boost,” he told journalists in Luanda.

The JRS Official continued, “A major step forward was the recognition last year of the Association of Refugees in Angola, which had been working for several years to legalize them.”

He lauded the sensitivity of some state institutions that have been working to reduce the number of cases of detention and expulsion of refugees and to provide access to birth registration.

JRS has been working closely with the Angolan government, “supporting programs that are consistent with global commitments related to refugees and asylum seekers,” the JRS Director in Angola told journalists on June 19.

He went on to highlight some initiatives to support refugees in the Southern African nation, including the provision of humanitarian assistance to displaced people and host communities such as allocation of food baskets, payment of rent for 110 households, medical assistance, and medicines, with 410 families benefiting in Luanda and Lunda-Norte.

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With presence in the provinces of Luanda and Lunda-Norte, JRS has projects that provide legal assistance and protection, social assistance, assistance against gender-based violence, income generation, vocational training, and pastoral assistance, da Costa said.

He added that one of the great gains from pastoral assistance has been the realization of marriages between refugees, “which for many years was impossible, but as a result of the work with state institutions and the Catholic Church, it has been possible to realize marriages between refugees.”

“The fundamental element for better protection of refugees and asylum seekers is access to documents,” the JRS official said, adding that although the granting of resident permits to many refugees and asylum seekers began in July 2023, they have not yet benefited from this right. 

“We would like this process of granting documents to be faster and more extensive,” he said.

João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate.