Malawians hailed for supporting Mozambican refugees

Feb 18, 2016 Politics 34
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Mozambican refugees

Humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has hailed Malawians for being generous towards Mozambican refugees who have fled tensions and violence in their country.

Speaking on the relations between villagers and refugees at Kapise Village in Mwanza, (MSF) field coordinator in Kapise, Whitney Ward, said Malawians in the village have been generous even though there are not enough resources to support the growing population

“The host community of Kapise village has been very generous and hospitable, but the strain put on them by the new arrivals raises concerns of emerging tensions, especially around access to water,” she said.

Mozambican refugees
Mozambican refugees: Enjoying Malawians’ help.

Ward however said the tensions will be understandable since over 5,800 people from 1,000 families are living in a village that had about 150 families, a situation she described as unsustainable.

She also spoke on the harsh living conditions faced within the camps, saying she had never seen such levels of overcrowding at all places she has worked.

“As people streamed in from Mozambique they settled where they could, building makeshift shelters from foraged wood and grass.

“We’re talking about hundreds of little shelters crammed on top of each other, where many children run around, people cook on stoves. As the rainy season failed till recently, the camp was usually very dry and it was a serious fire hazard,” she said.

Risk of diseases

Overcrowding has led to lack of sanitation and there is also a threat of Malaria within the camp, a situation that has caused serious concern.

“Half of the consultations in the MSF clinic are linked to malaria cases: in the past week alone we’ve treated 388 malaria patients.  People’s vulnerabilities are immense, but we’ve been quite lucky so far that no contagious disease has affected the camp.

“The overcrowding and lack of sanitation make it a serious risk. For example, whereas the respect of minimum humanitarian conditions would require at least 225 latrines for the 5,500 people currently in the camp, there are only 14 in working order. But even though the need is large, considering the scarcity of land it would be extremely difficult to build an appropriate number,” said Ward.

Call for assistance

MSF has since asked for humanitarian assistance for the thousands of refugees and has also called on the Malawi government and international organizations to acknowledge that the refugees need to be housed at another camp.

Ward said the refugees should be moved to a place that will “ease the overcrowding, provide adequate resources as well as guarantee access and efficient deployment of aid.”

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34 Comments

  7. But this Mozambicans don’t appriciate whatsoever Malawi have been doing to the by the way they do treat us hash whenever we entere into there Country

  8. Guys tatiyeni tizingowazunza ma kapewa, amatichitira nkhanza amenewa ngat si aneba. tisawasekere azunzidwe heavy. anthu oipa thus why akungomenyana. amenewa ali ndi mtima ngati ma Tanzanians anthu oipa kwambri, ifetu abale athu ndi ma zambians!

  9. Guys tatiyeni tizingowazunza ma kapewa, amatichitira nkhanza amenewa ngat si aneba. tisawasekere azunzidwe heavy. anthu oipa thus why akungomenyana. amenewa ali ndi mtima ngati ma Tanzanians anthu oipa kwambri, ifetu abale athu ndi ma zambians!

  16. We all kno that ntendele kapena kti freedom amainjoya ndiobwera mzika zadziko lamawi ndi mavuto ife kumozambiq ndi pa lizulu pompa kpita mbali ya moschco apolice akapenga amati ma paper alikti pamene malire ndi nsewu wathu omweu

  17. We all kno that ntendele kapena kti freedom amainjoya ndiobwera mzika zadziko lamawi ndi mavuto ife kumozambiq ndi pa lizulu pompa kpita mbali ya moschco apolice akapenga amati ma paper alikti pamene malire ndi nsewu wathu omweu

  25. bt the prblm wit apwitikiziwo r vry cruel in their country of which will change the behaviour of malawians, towards foreighners.

  26. Here we are again helping these monsters from neighbouring Mozambique. If I have reservations then they are against these latest refugees. These guys have helped to deforested our country and they hate us when we visit their country. The latest embarrassment is their refusal to use their port for water transport. Let them go to Zambia or Tanzania.

  28. We as malawians are always ready to help and accomodate the needy.We don’t feel to be better or higher than anyone for we are all equal and belong to one creator.The bible said,’who ever, does not LOVE, does not know God for God is love’.Let us try to love one another,more especially in these hard and touph times so that we can atleast create a conducive environment to one another.

  29. Mmmm mozambicans are not good people they touchored us alot when passing n there country as f we wont to stay there to harch and luthless people . So wat f we can do de same . They must take alesson.

  32. But mozambicans are NOT nice pipo they iltreat us wen pasing thru dea country, its good fo dem, i dont think dey can do good to us if we can b in their ctuation,

  33. As i’ve travelled n’see whats going on 2say the Trueth these Portugues they r’Insane pple as Compared 2Zimbabwean’s,amatikhaulitsa awa kukhala ngati Si ma Neighbour anyway akuti musabweze Choipa let us be Humble!

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