§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the First Secretary of State how many refugees have entered Northern Rhodesia as a result of the United Nations operation in Katanga; and what arrangements have been made for their relief.
§ Mr. BrookeI have been asked to reply.
No accurate estimate can be given of the total number of refugees who entered Northern Rhodesia. Up to 5,000 crossed the border after the entry of the United Nations into Kipushi. Following the occupation of Elizabethville, approximately 10,000 refugees gathered at the border in several places, but most of these did not proceed into Northern Rhodesia. A further 700 crossed the border when the United Nations approached Mokambo. The Northern Rhodesian Government have appointed a Refugee Commissioner to deal with this problem and to assume overall charge of arrangements for accommodating and feeding refugees.