For many years, Malawi, like many other countries, has been supporting numerous refugees running into their country fleeing several situations.

Recently, there was an arrest and detention of 377 refugees, including 117 children. Last week, on the 17 May, there were reports of forced relocation to the Dzaleka refugee camp by the Malawi authorities.

The government seems to consider camping as a solution to support refugees. 

Nationwide reports surprised everyone as the government made arrests and closed some shops and businesses owned by refugees in Lilongwe.

Even asylum seekers were affected by this unexpected encampment policy.

This new order stipulates all refugees and asylum-seekers should voluntarily return to the camp. The decree mandates all the above-listed group of people living both in local communities and cities to go back latest by 15 April 2023.

Reactions of Refugees in Malawi

Among the many who fled back to the camp, 35 persons recounted their unhappy movement to the UNHCR. For example, some said they fled and abandoned everything. Others almost lost family members due to the chaos.

For many, their initial stay in Maula Central Prison before being transferred in government vehicles to Dzaleka on 19 and 20 May was dreadful.

UNHCR call to the Malawi government

“We strongly reiterate our call to the authorities to rescind their relocation decision as the existing structures in Dzaleka refugee camp are already stretched to the limit and cannot accommodate more refugees in a dignified manner,” said Valentin Tapsoba, Director of UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for Southern Africa. “This will result in immense human suffering and create a new dependency on humanitarian assistance.”

Any return to Dzaleka refugee camp should be in accordance with human rights principles and not result in the detention of children.

How many people have returned?

Based on registered records, 505 individuals have returned to the camp. Most of who forcefully moved.

The situation in the camp is unstable. Some refugees have returned to their previous homes. Others are spending time with family relatives. Sadly, approximately 110 people are homeless. They are lodging at the camp’s reception center. This has created congestion, resulting in insufficient water and sanitation facilities. All this has led to high safety and health concerns.

Effects of the relocation.

Dzaleka refugee camp, like every other lodging facility, has the following problems; health services, water, shelter and sanitation facilities.

The increasing population is a massive challenge to provide needed support. 

One of the negative effects of relocating self-sufficient and productive refugees and asylum-seekers to Dzaleka will only exacerbate these problems.

This is directly dwindling on their prospects of rebuilding their lives and creating a sense of financial stability for their children.

The relocation will also negatively affect refugee children enrolled in schools across the country. They have to join overcrowded classes in the camp, this is seriously impacting their education.

Malawi is host to over 50,600 refugees. These people are  mainly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi and Rwanda. As of 22 May, the 12,000 refugee population designed for the camp has been exceeded beyond limit.

An estimated, 8,000 refugees and asylum-seekers living in  in Malawi’s rural and urban areas. The timeframe is unknown.

Several of them said they came in 2003 and others in 1994. These people have with no doubt fully integrated into the local Malawian community. 

After all these years, it is no surprise that they have become self-reliant.

This implies they contribute to the local economy via small-scale businesses. Some engaged in other entrepreneurial activities to support their lives far away from their war-torn countries.

Malawi’s obligation under international law to protect refugees.

Malawi’s obligation under international law to protect refugees.

The Malawian government is a signatory to the UNHCR refugee convention.

The unique country is part to the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework.

In addition, it has pledged at the Global Refugee Forum in December 2019 to incorporate refugee matters into its national development agenda. 

They promised to reform the legal and policy framework.

This includes a cover registration and documentation of refugees. Furthermore, they vowed to enhance refugee status determination and support the self-reliance of refugees through increased livelihood activities.

Recommendation

Refugees, like every other group of people, need support. As much the huge population can affect the financial support from their host governments, there is no denial to the other measure of support. 

Although camping refugees was an old effect measure to control the supply of necessities, camping is now ineffective. The increasing population is affecting the supply of fundamental resources. Humanitarian organizations like the UNHCR are battling with heavy financial constraints to support jobless, idle refugees. 

It is unreasonable for hardworking economic refugees to become jobless. On the one hand, it is worthwhile mentioning that, these people did not just assist their families with the proceeds of their businesses, but they provided needed support to Malawians too. 

Destabilizing them economically and forcing them to return to the camps is not a mitigating solution. In other ways, they are sending them back to the time they fled the war. 

Above everything, children, who form the highest majority of the refugee population, suffer the most. Many will no longer be able to continue school. Others have a mandate to join already small, cramped camp schools battling with major education problems.

Supporting refugees is limited to giving them a piece of land to build camps. It should be enabling these people to be able to stand for themselves and fend for their families in all aspects.

If you want to read more refugee articles, go here.