Lusaka - While tens of thousands of people are fleeing renewed fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, thousands of victims of the last war from 1998 to 
1993 are returning to their homes in the south of the country from neighbouring Zambia.

After nine years in refugee camps in Zambia, more and more Congolese refugees are packing for home, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Zambia said Wednesday.

The refugees are being repatriated by road to their homes in Katanga province, which is deemed safe, deputy representative for the UNHCR Zambia, Fernando Alvarado, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Despite heavy fighting in eastern Congo between UN-backed government forces and rebel forces loyal to renegade army general Laurent Nkunda, the UNHCR said an influx of refugees was was not expecting in Zambia, because the affected region - North Kivu province - is far from the Congo-Zambia border.

"The UNHCR and the governments of Zambia and DRC considers the conditions of some areas of DRC suitable for the return of refugees," Alvarado says, stressing the return was voluntary.

The areas that are receiving returnees have been cleared of landmines and have basic services, including schools, health clinics and clean drinking water, the UNHCR said.

The impoverished former British colony of Zambia is hosting more than 86,000 refugees from African conflicts, of which around 56,000 are accommodated in refugee camps.

Congolese make up the majority, followed by Angolans and a smaller number from Rwanda, Burundi and Somalia.

Between May and December last year, 7,325 Congolese refugees were repatriated by the UNHCR.

The rate of return has picked up this year, with a total of 8,038 returning since May, leaving around 39,000 in two camps. (dpa)