The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has called on the Malawi government to rescind its decision to relocate city dwelling refugees and asylum seekers to Dzaleka refugee camp.

The Ministry of Homeland Security last week started arresting some refugees and asylum seekers and kept them at Maula Prison before relocating them to Dzaleka Refugee camp in Dowa.

But a statement by Director of UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for Southern Africa, Valentin Tapsoba, has expressed concern that the move will expose the people to harsh living conditions at the camp which is already congested.

The move to arrest and relocate refugees and asylum seekers to Dzaleka refugee camp has attracted mixed reactions in the country with others cautioning the authorities of the consequences of such actions.

On the other hand, other sectors are supporting the move arguing that the displaced people were given enough time to relocate voluntarily.

However, Tapsoba, said government should withdraw the decision as the existing structures in Dzaleka refugee camp are already stretched to the limit and cannot accommodate more refugees in a dignified manner.

He added that the move will result in immense human suffering and create a new dependency on humanitarian assistance.

Tapsoba emphasized that any returns to Dzaleka Refugee camp should be done in accordance with human rights principles and not result in the detention of children.

Earlier this week various sectors including the members of parliament backed the decision to relocate the refugees.

The camp, which was originally established to accommodate up to 12,000 refugees, has over 50,000 refugees.