UNHCR, GOM MARK WORLD REFUGEE DAY, KEEP CAMPS OPEN

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000541 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/AFR MARY LANGE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV EAID MI SUBJECT: UNHCR, GOM MARK WORLD REFUGEE DAY, KEEP CAMPS OPEN REF: LILONGWE 416 ¶1. UNHCR, in coordination with the Government of Malawi (GOM),held a day-long event to mark World Refugee Day. Guests from the GOM, the Diplomatic Corps, and NGOs were provided a comprehensive overview and tour at the Dzaleka camp just north of Lilongwe. The event focused on this year's theme, "It Takes Courage to be a Refugee" and culminated in lively traditional dance performances by each national group in the camp. ¶2. UNHCR representatives used the event as an opportunity to inform PolOff of some recent developments, including the GOM's decision to keep both camps in Malawi open (reftel). According to UNHCR, the Dzaleka camp has a population of approximately 6,000 while the Luwani camp (re-opened in late 2003) in the south of Malawi has approximately 1,000. All new arrivals will now be placed at Luwani camp. UNHCR also noted that the refugee population is extremely transient and consists largely of "second-settlement" asylum applicants who are moving from camp to camp in a southerly direction. They speculated that the ultimate destination is South Africa, where many refugees hope to find jobs and economic prosperity. UNHCR and GOM officials indicated that the refugee status adjudication process has a backlog of nearly 2,000 cases and is currently undergoing revision. ¶3. Officials also lamented the recent increase in criminal activities at the camp. While the camps are largely peaceful, they said, there have been recent isolated incidents of mob violence related to the "gacaca" community justice process. Additionally, they said, a few disturbing incidents of kidnapped, murdered, and mutilated children have occurred, likely related to "muti", traditional witchcraft rituals. Refugee leaders and UNHCR are working in coordination with the GOM to investigate these incidents. ¶4. The event featured a drama presentation on HIV/AIDS, an issue that is not addressed at Dzaleka camp outside of a medical context. The camp, which is organized as a large village, has no HIV/AIDS posters, information centers, or obvious educational campaigns other than those at the clinic. UNHCR officials and camp administrators were not aware of any plans to increase HIV/AIDS awareness at either camp. GILMOUR