Malawi gov't sticks to "back to camp" order on refugees
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail Xinhua, April 27, 2021
LILONGWE, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Malawi government has reaffirmed the order to have all refugees and asylum seekers living outside the Dzaleka Refugees Camp return to the Camp by Wednesday.
Spokesperson for the country's Ministry of Homeland Security, Andrew Nyondo, made the reaffirmation Monday despite calls from local civil society organizations and UNHCR for the Malawi government to rescind the decision.
The Malawi government issued a statement earlier in the month ordering all asylum seekers and refugees living and plying their businesses outside their designated Dzaleka Camp to return by April 28 or risk being sent back to the camp by force.
Since the order was circulated, there have been calls from various local and international players appealing to the government to consider reviewing the order as Dzaleka Camp is already congested by refugees and asylum seekers.
"We appeal to the government to give the asylum seekers at least 6 months, or even a year, for them to prepare for the relocation while the government reviews the concerns raised by other players on the matter," Malawi Human Rights Defenders Coalition Chairperson, Gift Trapense, told local media Monday.
UNHCR has not yet made any official statement on the matter but the UN agency is reported to have appealed to the Malawi government to extend the period for the enforcement of the order.
But the Ministry of Homeland Security spokesperson told local media Monday that the government will not change the decision to have all the refugees and asylum seekers back to Dzaleka Camp.
"Government is not changing its decision: this decision came because the government wants everyone staying in Malawi to live according to law," said Nyondo.
Dzaleka Refugee Camp was established in 1994 with a capacity of accommodating a population of between 10,000 and 12,000 but it now has a population of over 40,000.
The camp is home to refugees and asylum seekers from the Great Lakes countries with people from Rwanda, Burundi and DRC in the majority. Enditem
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)