LILONGWE, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Malawian government has extended to other districts the relocation of refugees and asylum seekers back to Dzaleka Refugee Camp despite protests from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The Ministry of Homeland Security has extended the exercise to other districts in the central and northern regions of the country, said the ministry's spokesperson Patrick Botha.

"The government maintains its stand," said Botha. "We have rolled out the operation to the rest of the districts."

As of Wednesday, the exercise had been rolled out to the lakeshore districts of Mangochi, Nkhotakota, Nkhata Bay, Mzuzu City, and Rumphi, said the spokesperson.

Minister of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng'oma said the implementation of the exercise is in line with the country's encampment policy which prohibits refugees and asylum seekers from living outside the designated camp.

However, the UNHCR warned in a statement on Wednesday that the Malawian government's "back to camp" policy will lead to "human suffering." Enditem

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