File photo shows refugees from the Democaric Republic of Congo are seen at Kitale police station in Trans-Nzoia County in the Rift Valley region, Kenya, Nov. 5, 2013. According to government officials of DRC, some refugees are seeking asylum in Kenya to avoid being killed by the rebels in their country. (Xinhua/Robert Manyara)

NCHELENGE, Zambia, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Zambia and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) have appealed for international support to help settle asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Tuesday toured a transit center for asylum seekers in Luapula province and appealed to the international community to do more to support the government's efforts.

Lungu said while the government and its partners were doing everything possible to take care of the people, there was the need for more support.

"The needs of the refugees and the host community are many. This is a big challenge," Lungu said when addressing the asylum seekers.

The Zambian leader said the country expects to receive more asylum seekers from the DRC as indications so far show that the situation in DRC was likely to worsen.

He further said the country will face challenges to take care of the asylum seekers when they are moved to a permanent settlement.

Meanwhile,UNHCR Country Representative in Zambia Pierrine Aylara called for more assistance to Zambia and other countries hosting DRC asylum seekers.

Countries like Zambia require urgent assistance due to the increasing numbers of people being received on a daily basis, Aylara told reporters in Nchelenge, a district in Luapula province, during a visit to Kenani Transit Center for asylum seekers.

She thanked the Zambian government for accommodating the asylum seekers and some cooperating partners for providing assistance.

Abdon Mawere, commissioner for refugees in Zambia's Ministry of Home Affairs, said the transit center is receiving between 50 and 100 asylum seekers a day and that 5,890 people are now accommodated, 60 percent of them aged from 18 years and below.

"It is now urgent that we quickly move these people so that we provide them with all the basic needs required," he said.

The number of asylum seekers has now reached 6,009, according to latest figures released on Tuesday by UNHCR.