UNCHR hands over Mourners’ shelter to government in Mporokoso

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has officially handed over the Mourners’ Shelter at Mporokoso District Council Cemetery, which was constructed with funding from the UN refugee agency under the “assistance to refugee host community initiative” amounting to K 60 million.

Construction of the Mourners’ Shelter commenced in December 2009 and was completed in August 2010.

Implementation of the project was undertaken by the Mporokoso District Council on behalf of the government of the Republic of Zambia.

According to a statement signed by UNHCR Communications officer Kelvin Shimo, the Mourners’ Shelter was handed over today by the UN Refugee Agency Head of Sub Office in Charge of Northern and Luapula Provinces Mr. Phillipe Creppy to Northern Province Minister, who officiated at the ceremony on behalf of the Government.

During the hand-over ceremony, Mr Creppy, underlined the fact that UNHCR is not a development agency, but within its limited resources tries to assist the local communities in refugee impacted areas.

The request to UNHCR to assist with the construction of the Mourners’ Shelter was first made by the residents of Mporokoso, who used to complain of lack of a Mourners’ Shelter at the District cemetery. Mporokoso, in Northern Province, hosts refugees at Mwange refugee camp.

Northern Province Minister, John Chinyanta thanked UNHCR for assisting the government by funding the construction of the Mourners’ Shelter which will improve services for mourners during burial at the district cemetery.

In January 2010, UNHCR also completed emergency rehabilitation of one by three classroom block and a teacher’s house at a cost of K60 million at Munkanta Basic School in Kawambwa District, Luapula Province, which had been destroyed by heavy rains in 2009.

Mr Creppy expressed his gratitude to the people of Mporokoso and the Government of the Republic of Zambia for the active support and commitment they showed all through the implementation of this project.

He also said the gesture was UNHCR’s appreciation to the people of Mporokoso and the Government of Zambia for the warm welcome which was and continues to be accorded refugees.

[ ZANIS ]