United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi is expected to arrive in the country tomorrow.

In a press release availed by UNHCR representative in Zambia Pierrine Aylara, Monday, said Grandi is scheduled to hold meetings with senior government officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps and visit Matapala settlement where he will meet refugees and humanitarian workers.

Aylara described Grandi’s visit as a clear sign of appreciation from UNHCR for Zambia’s long-standing and exemplary record in hosting refugees from various countries.

“The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Filippo Grandi, arrives in Zambia on Wednesday, 16 October 2019 for an official visit. Mr Grandi, head of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), is scheduled to hold consultative meetings with senior Government officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps, UN agencies and visit Matapala Settlement, where he will meet with refugees, host community and humanitarian workers. The visit to Zambia is part of a wider tour of the Southern African region to support the agency’s operations. He concludes his visit to South Africa,” read the statement.

“The UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ visit to Zambia comes at a crucial time, at the eve of the Global Refugee Forum. Which is the forum to showcase all the efforts the government of Zambia and UNHCR have made in ensuring a comprehensive refugee response to the Congolese emergency. And the local integration of former Angolan and Rwandan refugees. UNHCR Representative in Zambia, Ms Pierrine Aylara, described the visit of Mr Grandi as a clear sign of appreciation from UNHCR for Zambia’s long-standing and exemplary record in hosting refugees from various countries. And it signals the importance the UN agency attaches to the search for durable solutions and implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees. Mr Grandi is based at the UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Zambia currently hosts 84,553 refugees and others of concern, in three refugee settlements, urban areas and self-settled.”