REFUGEE SERVICES IN MALAWI: AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000416

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/AFR MARY LANGE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM EAID MI
SUBJECT: REFUGEE SERVICES IN MALAWI: AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE


1. SUMMARY. The 2004 Ambassador's Fund for Refugees grant
is currently being implemented in Malawi, despite several
obstacles and an uncertain future for refugee services in
the country. The closure of one of Malawi's two camps and
even a possible cessation of services for Rwandese refugees
are looming on the horizon. END SUMMARY.


2. The 2004 Ambassador's Fund for Refugees grantee, Jesuit
Refugee Services (JRS),has completed several elements of
their 2004 project. Two computers have been purchased for a
Dzaleka camp learning center, and qualified teachers are
currently providing computer skills training to young women.
These classes have been extremely popular, and will soon be
made available to a group of young men as well. JRS has
also purchased science equipment and several thousand
textbooks for a local secondary school utilized by refugees.


3. While JRS has made good progress in completing their
project as proposed, they have run into some formidable
obstacles. One element of the project is the construction a
school block at the newly re-opened Luwani camp; however,
talk of camp closure and a possible cessation of services
for Rwandese (the largest group of refugees in Malawi) are
cause for hesitation. So far, no school construction is
underway.


4. UNHCR and GOM officials remain unsure - or at least
tight-lipped - about which of the two camps will remain
open. A camp administrator told PolOff on May 13 that the
GOM is now complaining about problems of land and water
usage at Luwani camp, which was re-opened in late 2003.
(NOTE: At that time, UNHCR insisted that Luwani's opening
was essential due to the limited space for farming and
crowded conditions at Dzaleka. Prior to re-opening Luwani,
UNHCR said the areas surrounding the camp - which had
previously housed in excess of 200,000 Mozambican refugees -
were readily available for refugees' usage. END NOTE) The
administrator added that new arrivals to Malawi often refuse
to go to Luwani, citing poor living and agricultural
conditions there as well as the camp's remote location. He
noted that the GOM's preference is to expand Luwani and
close Dzaleka completely, though he did not think UNHCR
would agree. A cessation of services to Rwandese,
apparently under consideration since the 2003 tripartite
repatriation agreement, had been scheduled to occur in late
2005, but now appears to have been postponed until at least

2006.


5. COMMENT. JRS has made reasonable, good faith efforts to
uphold its grant agreement with the USG. Unfortunately,
these efforts have been slowed due to inefficiencies in the
UNHCR/GOM decision-making process. Consolidation of the two
camps appears to be a logical idea, however deciding which
camp to close may be more difficult than the GOM and UNHCR
would like. Malawi's looming food crisis and continued
severe poverty make refugee services and land usage
sensitive issues. A cessation of services for Rwandese,
while unlikely in the immediate future, does not seem to be
out of the question.
GILMOUR