The government has disclosed that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has committed $80 million (about K87.6 billion) for the establishment of a new refugee camp at Kayilizi, Senior Chief Mwenewenya, in Chitipa District.
It adds that UNHCR has committed $50,000 (about K57 million) towards the review of the Refugees Act of 1989.
Homeland Security Minister Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma told this publication that this is a result of meetings he had with UNHCR officials.
“I had a meeting with officials from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on issues related to assistance. We are working closely with them on various projects, including on that pertaining to the establishment of a new refugee camp in Chitipa,” Zikhale Ng’oma said.
- Advertisement -
Meanwhile, Youth and Society Executive Director Charles Kajoloweka has commended UNHCR for the support and has since asked other development partners to help in the exercise.
- Advertisement -
“The welfare of refugees should be a priority for Malawi. The government should make sure that it creates a conducive environment for refugees and adheres to refugee treaties that are deposited at the United Nations,” Kajoloweka said.
In another development, Zikhale Ng’oma disclosed that 117 refugees will be repatriated on September 15.
This follows the repatriation of 38 other Rwandan refugees in June this year.
He expressed optimism that the number of refugees being repatriated voluntarily would continue to grow.
- Advertisement -
“I am so proud that, now, people are able to understand the importance of rules and regulations of a particular country because a refugee is someone who comes into one’s country due to problems. In fact, it [going back] is a good thing because these people will integrate with their relatives in their respective countries and start a normal life,” Zikhale Ng’oma said.
Malawi currently hosts close to 70,000 refugees, most of whom come from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Dzaleka, located in Dowa District, is the largest refugee camp in the country.
