The Department for Refugees (DfR) has sounded an alarm over worsening humanitarian conditions at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa District, where the population has soared to more than 60,000, five times the camp’s intended capacity of 12,000.
The camp, originally established to host refugees fleeing wars in Central and East Africa, continues to receive 200–250 asylum seekers every month, creating severe congestion and straining basic services like food, shelter, and healthcare.
Speaking during an engagement with the media and civil society organizations in Lilongwe, Deputy Commissioner for Refugees, Ivy Chihana, painted a grim picture of the situation at Dzaleka Refugee Camp, revealing that the population has grown to more than 60,000, far beyond its designed capacity of 12,000.
“As of today, Dzaleka is hosting 60,026 refugees, though it was built for only 12,000. We are receiving between 200 and 250 new asylum seekers every month, and on top of that, nearly 200 babies are born in the camp each month. The space is no longer enough for people to live in dignity,” she said.
She explained that the government is trying to address the congestion by identifying new settlement areas, including one at Chitiba, but progress has been delayed due to a lack of funding.
Chihana added that the withdrawal or scaling down of assistance by UNHCR which has reduced its Malawi staff from 71 to just six officers has left the government struggling to manage essential services in the camp.
“We have identified Chitiba as a new settlement area where we hope to relocate some refugees to reduce congestion. However, we have been unable to begin the project because of financial challenges. UNHCR has scaled down its support, and that has affected all our plans
“With UNHCR scaling down, all responsibilities now fall on the government. We are therefore calling upon donors and well-wishers to assist us in providing adequate support to refugees and asylum seekers in Malawi,” she added.
The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has described the situation as a serious human rights concern, citing overcrowding, increasing violence, and deteriorating living conditions.
Peter Chisi, MHRC’s Director of Civil and Political Rights, said the refugee population has grown rapidly while resources have declined.
He added that the withdrawal of support from UNHCR and the World Food Programme (WFP) has left many refugees vulnerable and dependent on minimal government assistance.
“The number of refugees has ballooned from about 45,000 to 60,000 over the past decade, yet the land area remains the same. We are witnessing overcrowding, food shortages, and rising cases of robbery, gender-based violence, and child rights violations.
“It’s a dire situation. The government must engage the UN and regional partners to find alternative funding and long-term solutions,” he added.
With thousands of lives depending on limited resources, the situation at Dzaleka stands as a test of global solidarity and Malawi’s resilience in upholding the rights and dignity of refugees.
