Angolan children living in Namibia are facing barriers to education, healthcare and birth registration, according to a new report by Amnesty International.

The report documents the experiences of Angolan children and families living in several Namibian communities, including Windhoek, Oshakati and Swakopmund.

Amnesty International says many of the children lack birth certificates or other documents proving their legal identity.

According to the report, almost none of the children in the communities studied had birth certificates, regardless of whether they were born in Angola or Namibia.

The lack of documentation can make it difficult for children to access education, healthcare and other public services.

The report identifies missing documents and language differences as some of the barriers.

Children who speak Portuguese or OshiHakaona may also face difficulties in schools where English and Oshiwambo are commonly used.

Amnesty further found Angolan children living or working on the streets in some towns.

It warns that children without documentation or stable family support may be exposed to labour exploitation and trafficking.

The report also records cases involving unaccompanied and separated children.

Two girls, estimated to be between eight and ten years old, entered Namibia with people travelling from Angola. The people accompanying them later left them behind, after which other families took care of the children.

Healthcare is another concern highlighted in the report.

Some families travel long distances with sick children to access medical treatment in Namibia.

Amnesty says some children live in conditions where access to reliable water, sanitation, adequate food and proper shelter is limited. Caregivers also reported frequent illness and undernutrition.

Eighteen children were returned to Angola on 12 June 2023, followed by another six in October 2023. Four children were accommodated at the Namibian Children's Home in Windhoek as part of the return process.

Amnesty says publicly available information does not establish whether all the children who were returned were reunited with their parents or relatives or whether assessments of their best interests were conducted before their return.

The NBC contacted the Angolan Embassy in July for comment on the situation affecting Angolan children in Namibia but had not received a response at the time of publication.