WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA (HRNW) — Amnesty International has warned that Angolan women and children displaced by severe drought are facing serious human-rights risks after crossing into Namibia in search of food, water, livelihoods and essential services.
In a report published September 2, Amnesty documented the experiences of drought-displaced Angolans and called for a rights-based migration framework that provides registration, documentation and protection for people forced across borders by climate-related disasters.
Amnesty said many displaced people live with persistent fears of arrest, detention and deportation. Those fears can also discourage families from seeking healthcare and other essential services.
The organization said it interviewed at least 167 people between May 2024 and May 2026, including displaced people, community leaders, government officials, civil-society representatives, academics and UN personnel.
According to Amnesty, more than 1,000 Angolan nationals were returned to Angola in 2026 after being found in Namibia without regular immigration status. The organization also documented concerns about previous removals involving women and children, including cases where individual protection assessments were allegedly absent.
The report describes families living in severely overcrowded conditions or makeshift shelters and highlights barriers to healthcare for undocumented Angolans. Amnesty said some people reported delaying medical treatment because of concerns about immigration enforcement or higher healthcare fees.
The organization is calling on Namibia to conduct individual assessments before deportations and ensure that displaced people can access legal protection, registration and basic rights.
Amnesty also urged Angola and the international community to strengthen drought preparedness, climate adaptation, water infrastructure and livelihood protection so that climate-related displacement does not continue to place vulnerable communities at greater risk.
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Disclaimer:
This report is based on Amnesty International’s investigation and publicly available information. HRNW does not independently verify every individual account and presents the findings as attributed human-rights reporting.
