UNHCR first began working in Malawi in 1986 when Malawi received an influx of about 1.2 million Mozambican refugees. Currently, there are about 8,000 refugees and asylum seekers mostly from the Great Lakes Region – Congo DR, Burundi, Rwanda and a recent influx from the Horn of Africa – Somalia and Ethiopia. The Government of Malawi operates two refugee camps – Dzaleka in Dowa district and Luwani¹ in Neno district. Dzaleka is a refugee camp that no longer receives new arrivals and has a population of about 5,000 people. All refugees and asylum seekers in camps benefit from food assistance, provided by WFP and non-food assistance provided by UNHCR including construction material to build their own houses in the camp.

¹ In May 2007, Government of Malawi ordered the closure of Luwani camp. UNHCR is currently preparing the logistics to move close to 3,000 refugees, establish basic social services including shelter, health and medical facilities.

Legal Framework

Malawi has enacted Refugee Act in 1989. Malawi is a signatory to both the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol and Malawi also is a signatory to the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of the Refugees problems in Africa. When ratifying the Convention, the Government of Malawi made the following reservations: 7 (exemption from Reciprocity), 13 (Movable and Immovable Property), 15 (Rights of Association), 17 (Wage Earning Employment), 19 (Liberal Professionals), 22 (Public Education), 24 (Labour Legislation and Social Security), 26 (Freedom of Movement), 34 (Naturalization). Generally, reservations mean that the state is not bound to provide refugees with any conditions that are more favorable than those accorded to aliens generally in the same circumstances in that country. It should be noted that the reservation to Public Education is no longer being applied.

Procedures for seeking asylum in Malawi

Asylum seekers declare themselves at any entry point where they are required to register with the police or immigration before proceeding to Luwani refugee camp.

Each refugee application is lodged to the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees in the Department of Poverty and Disaster Management Affaires, interviewed individually and the decision is taken on the merits of each application.

A competent refugee status determination unit has been established in the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees to interview the applicants and make recommendations to the Refugee Committee. The Refugee Committee takes the final decision, with a possibility of an appeal to the Minister in case the applicant is not satisfied with the decision of the Refugee Committee.

All refugees and asylum seekers are being registered with the Government of Malawi and persons of concern of 18 years and above are issued with identity cards.

Solutions to Refugees

There are three durable solutions to refugees, which are pursued by UNHCR.

1. Voluntary Repatriation applies when the conditions in the country of origin have changed and refugees can repatriate voluntarily and in safety and dignity home.
   In Malawi, UNHCR and the Government of Malawi have begun repatriation of Rwandan refugees. Facilitation and assessment of Burundian and Congolese refugees respectively is underway.


2. Naturalization applies when the prospects for return are not feasible and refugees have been allowed by the asylum countries to settle permanently a status other than refugee.
   In Malawi, naturalization is uncommon,  even though a number of refugees became self-reliant.


3. Resettlement to a third country remains the solution when the first two are not applicable. The resettlement opportunities depend on the quota available from the resettlement countries.

Urban Residence Sub-Committee

The Government of Malawi maintains an encampment policy for refugees and asylum seekers. However, understanding the concerns and needs of some refugees to reside in urban, the Office of the Commissioner for Refugee created an Urban Residence Sub-Committee that assesses and recommends for urban residence. The criteria for applying to reside in urban areas includes medical needs, attending Secondary and University educations,  holders of Temporary Employment, Business Resident or other permits and vulnerable cases.

Implementing and Operational Partners:
UNHCR has a number of implementing and operational partners that provide assistance to refugees and asylum seekers and seek durable solutions to refugees.

Office of the Commissioner for Refugees
(Government’s coordination of refugee program)

Ministry of Health
(provision of health facilities for refugees, including managing of two clinics)

World Food Programme
(provision of food items to refugees)

Malawi Red Cross Society
(provision of social services, counseling)

Jesuit Refugee Service
(provision of education for refugees, including running of schools)

World Relief Malawi
(provision of non-food items, construction materials, loans)

For more details, visit www.unhcr.org or contact us on

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
PO Box 30230, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
Tel: (+265) 772155/775523
fax: (+265) 774128
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