By Chrispin Lwanja
The United Nations for High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has revitalised its interest in assisting the government of Malawi to develop the new resettlement site for refugees in Chitipa district.
Advanced talks between Malawi and UNHCR
Minister of Homeland Security Kenneth Zikhale Ng'oma on Thursday led a Malawian delegation which among other government officials comprised; Secretary for the Ministry of Homeland Security Dr. Steven Kayuni to a meeting which was attended by the Assistant High Commissioner for Operations Raouf Mazou and Director, Regional Bureau for Southern Africa Chansa Kapaya.
The meeting was done on the sidelines of the 75th session of the UNHCR Executive committee ( EXCOM) underway in Geneva, Switzerland.
Speaking during the meeting, Malawi's Homeland Security Minister Kenneth Zikhale Ng'oma highlighted that the government of Malawi is committed to improving the protection of refugees and asylum seekers.
He said, this is evidenced by the major steps which have been taken towards the review of the 1989 Refugee Act.
In response, UNHCR's Assistant High Commission for Operations Raouf Mazou promised to help the government of Malawi in the development of the new settlement site Chitipa district.
Mazou clarified that this will be made possible by working with other partners in lobbying for the funding assistance of the project.
He indicated that the timely development of the new site in Chitipa district is paramount in the decongestion of the Dzaleka refugee camp which is accommodating over 50,000 refugees.
During the meeting a recommendation was made for Malawi to consider lifting reservations and accede to 1961 convention on the reduction of statelessness.
The Government of Malawi acquired over 400 hectares of land at Kayilizi in Chitipa district as a way to decongest Dzaleka refugee camp in Dowa district.
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