Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) has raised concerns about the dire conditions faced by children who have fled to Malawi amid post-election violence in Mozambique.

Speaking during the District Civil Protection Committee (DCPC) meeting in Nsanje on Friday, YONECO executive director MacBain Mkandawire highlighted the challenges the vulnerable children, aged between six and 18, are encountering in camps.

“Some of the children are simply loitering in the camps, lacking basic needs like shelter, sanitation facilities, and mosquito nets to protect them from malaria,” Mkandawire said.

To address these urgent needs, Mkandawire said the organization is supplying fuel to the police to ensure the security of asylum seekers in the camps.

“Additionally, YONECO is providing essential supplies such as clothes, sanitary pads, and dignity kits, with a particular focus on the welfare of girls.

“Our long-term solution is to explore how we can provide education for these displaced children,” Mkandawire added, emphasizing the need for sustainable support.

In a bid to improve conditions and prevent disruptions when schools reopen next week, the committee has initiated plans to relocate the refugees to Nyamithuthu Camp starting Sunday. The move aims to create a safer and more structured environment for the children and their families.