Post-election violence in Mozambique has forced thousands of people to cross into Malawi through Nsanje District.
The violence escalated after the ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo) candidate, Daniel Chapo, was declared the winner of the disputed October 9 presidential election.
Traditional Authority Tengani is one of the Mozambicans being accommodated at the Tengani Evacuation Camp. She reported that those fleeing to Malawi include pregnant women, the elderly, and children.
The traditional leader described the lack of food as the main challenge at the camp.
“Five children collapsed at the camp because of hunger, but the next day I was given 150 bags of maize flour and four bags of beans, which I distributed to my people,” she said.
Nsanje District Commissioner Dominic Mwandira told YFM that, between Monday and Thursday, the district received more than 2,500 Mozambican households seeking asylum. He stated that the asylum seekers are from the neighboring Morumbara District in Mozambique.
Mwandira explained that the Mozambicans entered the district through Traditional Authorities (TAs) Tengani, Mlolo, and Mbenje after crossing the Shire and Ruo rivers.
He also noted that the number of refugees was expected to rise daily.
“We have heard that there are others who have entered the district through TA Ndamera and Malemia,” he added.
The refugees are being sheltered in seven makeshift camps, including the Tengani Evacuation Centre, Nyamithuthu Primary School, Chazuka Community-Based Childcare Centre (CBCC), Mnembe CBCC at Phokera, Mizola CBCC, and Chikonje Primary School.
Mwandira highlighted that the biggest challenge is the lack of resources to support the asylum seekers.
“In terms of food and non-food items, tents, mobile toilets, handwashing materials, and water.”
Hilda Katema Kausiwa, Senior Administrative Assistant and Operations Manager at the Department of Refugees in the Ministry of Homeland Security, said the government and partners are stepping in to provide additional support.
“We are providing healthcare, security through the Department of Immigration, and food will also be provided.”
The Department of Refugees in the Ministry of Homeland Security and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Malawi conducted a three-day joint assessment and data verification exercise to identify the needs of the refugees.
Other organizations that participated in the exercise include Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO), the World Food Programme, the Malawi Red Cross Society, and Plan International.
