The UN refugee agency is withdrawing its operations from Malawi, threatening a catastrophic collapse of essential services and security at the nation's largest refugee camp, Dzaleka. With scores of security and other essential services personnel already laid off and a severe funding crunch, Dzaleka's 56,000 residents, already vulnerable to crime, including human trafficking, face a bleak future. UNHCR is pulling out of Malawi, leaving scores of refugees in despair (PIC SOURCE: INTERNET) JULIUS MBEŴE The country’s biggest refugee camp, Dzaleka refugee camp, faces a bleak future and is left in a crisis after the UN agency responsible for refugees, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), cuts jobs and funding as it closes down its Malawi operations. Scores of jobs have been lost, including those of security personnel and officials attached to the department of refugees to supervise the camp, leading to fears that the camp, which already was considered a hotbed for crimes, including human trafficking, would degenerate into further lawlessness and desperation as food supplies and basic amenities dwindle. Other crucial services, such as health services, food deliveries, and trauma support, are also expected to shut down. A PIJ investigation previously exposed Dzaleka as a hub for human trafficking, particularly the human smuggling syndicates operated by Ethiopian nationals. In the Department of Refugees, a unit under the Ministry of Homeland Security, approximately 41 jobs have been lost due to the downsizing of operations. More job losses have been reported at the UNHCR head offices in Lilongwe, where its office is expected to be closed entirely within a matter of months. A group of refugees perform gymnastics at Dzaleka Refugee camp (PIC SOURCE: UNHCR) UNHCR, which is expected to completely close its offices as early as September, is already selling off its vehicles, equipment, and other assets, leaving question marks on who will support the operations of the refugee camp with UNHCR leaving behind just a small team of less than 3 people who will operate under the UNDP office, according to officials familiar with the winding down plans. However, both the UNHCR and the Department of Refugees confirmed separately that there are no immediate plans to close the camp despite the withdrawal of support. “Due to ongoing funding constraints affecting the humanitarian sector, UNHCR is reviewing and adjusting its operational presence around the world, including in Malawi. “Despite these adjustments, we remain fully committed to supporting the government’s efforts to protect and assist refugees and asylum-seekers in Malawi and to meet its international obligations towards refugees, although under different operational modalities,” UNHCR Country Representative in Malawi, Kouame Modeste, told PIJ in a written response. Modeste said many people have been laid off, but did not specify the number of those affected. He said both international and national personnel were affected by the global repositioning. “As part of a global review, we have been assessing our workforce needs in each country. We deeply appreciate the expertise, dedication, and hard work of our colleagues, and we recognize and are deeply sorry for the impact this will have on them and their families,” he said. Commissioner for Refugees in Malawi, General Ignacio Maulana (retired), confirmed in a separate interview that at least 41 jobs from his department have been lost as a result of the funding cut from UNHCR. “I think they should be leaving by September,” said Maulana. “It has cost us about 41 jobs in the department, mostly security personnel. We are still using their vehicles, but we are supposed to hand them back by 30th June,” he added. Maulana said the department is engaging with the government to address the resulting human resource gaps, especially the need for new, non-established security posts, and plans to convene a stakeholders’ conference on the situation. Beyond the job losses, the development leaves Dzaleka, home to 56,000 refugees and asylum seekers, in crisis amid fears of security breakdown and social services. On the ground, the refugees inside the Dzaleka say they are already feeling the absence of UNHCR, with its presence all but disappeared, including in services such as protection. "It’s like UNHCR doesn’t exist anymore," said Niyibigira Goreth, a leader of the Burundi refugee community at Dzaleka. "Protection consultations have stopped. The office is no longer active like before." Goreth, who has lived at Dzaleka for nine years, shared that the refugees have been told to brace for the end of cash assistance. The health system in the camp is faltering, and no other humanitarian organisations have stepped in to fill the gap. "We can’t get enough medication. The hospital rarely meets our needs,” she says. Sources also expressed concern that no clear transition plan is in place, and the government’s ability to independently manage the refugee situation remains in question. “There has been very little direct investment from the government or other local stakeholders. The departure of UNHCR will expose massive gaps,” one insider said. Innocent Magambi, Chief Executive Officer of Inua Advocacy, a refugee rights advocacy non-profit, decried the lack of transparency in the UNHCR exit process. He warned of devastating consequences if the process is mismanaged. “Our understanding of the situation is based solely on media reports and informal channels, which suggest that financial constraints have significantly affected UNHCR’s capacity,” Magambi told PIJ. “We had no prior knowledge of any potential full withdrawal, and if such a move is underway, it raises serious concerns about the continuity of essential refugee protection mechanisms in Malawi.” UNHCR Malawi team staff observing UNHCR Malawi staff pictured in 2022, observing a moment of silence to pay tributes to humanitarians killed in their line of duty. (Photo credit: UNHCR) The UNHCR has long been the backbone of refugee support in Malawi, providing critical services that range from healthcare and education to food assistance and legal protection. Magambi fears the organisation’s potential exit on the horizon, and the resulting vacuum could be disastrous if not managed properly. “The potential withdrawal of UNHCR from Malawi could be devastating if not managed through a well-planned, inclusive, and adequately funded transition,” Magambi said. “Health and education services are especially vulnerable. But it’s also an opportunity to reimagine refugee support under a conducive policy environment. Capable local NGOs could deliver more efficient, culturally relevant services with just a fraction of UNHCR’s budget,” said Magambi. Initially designed for 10,000 to 12,000 people, Dzaleka is overcrowded with refugees fleeing from conflicts in countries such as Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Ethiopia, and others. This article was produced by the Platform for Investigative Journalism (PIJ), a non-profit centre for investigative journalism. 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