Namibia: Over 141 000 people stateless, undocumented
Published: 6/Apr/2024
Source: The Namibian
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security says a total of 141 048 individuals have been identified and registered as stateless and undocumented.
This was revealed by home affairs minister Albert Kawana in parliament this week while delivering his ministry’ budget statement.
The ministry is seeking the parliament’s approval of N$7,4 billion for the 2024/25 financial year.
N$390 million of this budget is earmarked for capital projects.
“This number is currently being validated against the National Population Registration System. A new law will be enacted to regularise the status of the affected individuals,” Kawana said.
He said Namibia has joined other United Nations member states on the ‘#I Belong To’ campaign, aimed at ending statelessness by 2024.
Namibia has commenced with the identification and registration of stateless and undocumented people, he said.
Kawana said the ministry, together with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), held tripartite meetings to promote the voluntary repatriation of Congolese asylum seekers and refugees in Namibia.
“These tripartite meetings resulted in the voluntary repatriation of 182 Congolese nationals in safety and dignity during the months of August and November 2023,” he said.
Read further: https://www.namibian.com.na/over-141-000-people-stateless-undocumented/