Inadequate Funding Affects Welfare of Refugees in Malawi - WFP
Dzaleka refugee camp in Dowa
The World Food Programme (WFP) has called for collaborative efforts by Government and non-state actors in the provision of sustainable investments that could in turn assist refugees to become self-reliant.
WFP Malawi’s Country Director, Paul Turnbull said the will is for refugees to get at least 100 percent of basic needs noting that currently, they are only getting over 75 percent due to insufficient resources.
``We are just managing the ratio between 50-75 percent refugees, in a month with ration. We have been struggling to keep a minimal level of assistance to refugees in Dzaleka due to some problems and what we are doing now is just to target the most vulnerable refugees” said Turnbull.
The remarks come after Malawi, joins the rest of the World in commemorating World Refugee Day which falls on the 20th of June every year.
Officer in Charge for UNHCR, Roberline Tozwen says another issue is the current congestion at the Dzaleka refugee camp which has also affected the assistance offered.
``We are supposed to host 10 thousand refugees at the camp. But, there are now over 50 refugees. This issue of congestion for example has affected all areas of protection, education,” explained Tozwen.
According to the latest figures released by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 67 percent of refugees and asylum seekers originated from countries with food crises in 2021.
World Refugee Day this year is being observed under the theme Whoever, Whatever, whenever, everyone has a right to seek safety.
The country has over 53 thousand refugees, 48 thousand of which are currently receiving food assistance from WFP.
