World Refugee Day 2003: Angola

Festivities at the Congolese refugee settlement of Sungi in Bengo province. © UNHCR Angola

© © UNHCR Angola

Angola celebrated World Refugee Day with the start of UNHCR-assisted returns from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. More than 200,000 Angolans are expected to return to Angola from the region over the next two years.

Dancing and singing contests and sports competitions were held between Congolese refugees and their Angolan hosts. There were also radio broadcasts involving refugee representatives and UNHCR, as well as a debate between Angola's education and immigration authorities, refugee committees and UNHCR.