REFUGEES AND LOCALS: AN INCOMPATIBLE PAIR?

The document discusses the psychological and social challenges refugees face, the policy approach of Zambia in integrating refugees with local populations, and the implementation of a peace and conflict resolution training programme. It argues that sustainable repatriation depends on healing 'invisible wounds' and equipping refugees with human relationship skills to prevent conflict upon returning to war-ravaged homelands.

• Refugees often suffer from 'invisible wounds' including anger, hatred, and a breakdown of trust resulting from the violence of war, which can lead to unexpected violence if not addressed through healing and rehabilitation.
• Zambia has implemented an enlightened refugee policy that promotes integration through the provision of agricultural land, shared schooling for refugee and local children, and health services available to both groups.
• Local populations may perceive refugees as a privileged group due to international assistance, which can breed resentment, envy, and the tendency to blame refugees for societal problems and criminal activities.
• A peace and conflict resolution training programme, jointly developed with the Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation (MEF), trained 67 refugees from Angola, Burundi, Rwanda, and the DRC in skills such as negotiation, empathy, and compromise.
• Training in conflict resolution led to practical improvements in camp relations, such as resolving cattle grazing disputes through dialogue, and influenced returnees in Angola to seek alternative land plots rather than engaging in conflict over seized property.
• The 'Zambia Initiative' is a government-led measure targeting the Western Zone—the poorest area in Zambia—to integrate refugee interests into national development plans across education, agriculture, health, and infrastructure.

APA

Lobo, M. (n.d.). REFUGEES AND LOCALS: AN INCOMPATIBLE PAIR? Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CIVILLOBO.PDF

Chicago

Lobo, Marie. REFUGEES AND LOCALS: AN INCOMPATIBLE PAIR? Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CIVILLOBO.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lobo |first1=Marie |title=REFUGEES AND LOCALS: AN INCOMPATIBLE PAIR? |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CIVILLOBO.PDF |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lobondrefugees, author = {Lobo, Marie}, title = {{REFUGEES AND LOCALS: AN INCOMPATIBLE PAIR?}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CIVILLOBO.PDF}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }