By Wezzie Gausi:
The World Food Programme (WFP) has cut provisions of food rations to refugees at Dzaleka Camp to 50 percent from 75 percent with effect from August 1 2023.
The Ministry of Homeland Security has described the development as worrisome, saying the government does not have enough resources to help the refugees.
Speaking Wednesday in Lilongwe at a press briefing organised by the ministry on progress of the relocation of refugees and asylum seekers, Homeland Security Minister Ken Zikhale Ng’oma said the government’s capacity to help the refugees will end by December 31 2023.
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He said, with the cut, the government has to dig deeper in order to feed the refugees.
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“This situation is worrisome and we will be engaging WFP to discuss a possible increase on the food [rations]. After Cyclone Freddy hit this nation [on March 11 this year], we, as a country, are still recovering.
“To be honest, we will need more support if these refugees are to survive. But we are hoping that, maybe, something good will happen for the safe stay of the refugees,” Zikhale Ng’oma said.
Meanwhile, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation Executive Director Michael Kaiyatsa has said refugees and asylum seekers are supposed to be protected and taken care of at all cost.
“It is our appeal to WFP to rescind its decision on the provision of food rations. We, as a nation, can, indeed, not manage to feed these people alone, more so as we are on the verge of facing hunger due to Cyclone Freddy,” he said.
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Meanwhile, Zikhale Ng’oma has said the ministry will be repatriating 98 refugees back to their countries.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees spokesperson Kenyi Lukajo was not immediately available to comment on the matter.
