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Refugees and asylum-seekers

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JSON 
Total number of refugees and asylum seekers JSON 
40,852
Source - UNHCR, Government 
Households*
5,225
Last updated 31 Jul 2019
* Household data may be unavailable for some locations.
Source - UNHCR, Government
Cyclone situation summary
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is working with governments and humanitarian partners in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi to provide relief to the survivors of the Tropical Cyclone Idai which struck the east coast of southern Africa on 14 and 15 March. In Malawi, the Government has declared a state of national disaster, and 59 people are reported to have died as of 23 March 2019 (source: Department of Disaster Management Affairs). At least 15 districts and two cities have been impacted, with approximately 840,000 people affected nationally by the floods.

About 94,000 people are displaced and sheltering in makeshift sites for internally displaced people. The Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi was not directly affected.

More than 4,400 Mozambican nationals - including women and children, have been forced to seek safety from the Cyclone’s devastation in Nsanje district, in southern Malawi. UNHCR join efforts of the Government and other UN agencies to assist those affected in the country.
Refugees and asylum-seekers by Origin JSON  .CSV 
Country of origin Source Data date Population
Dem. Rep. of the Congo UNHCR, Government 31 Jul 2019
  61.8% 		25,247
Burundi UNHCR, Government 10 Jul 2019
  21.4% 		8,752
Rwanda UNHCR, Government 10 Jul 2019
  16.2% 		6,606
Others UNHCR, Government 10 Jul 2019
  0.6% 		247


  Latest Documents
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    UNHCR Regional Update_DRC situation_July 2019_AT A GLANCE

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    A brief overview of the situation of the DRC refugees and UNHCR’s operations in the region
    Published: 9 September 2019 (9 days ago)
    Uploaded: 9 September 2019 (8 days ago)
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    Malawi Livelihoods Malawi Livelihoods Factsheet

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    Malawi Livelihoods Factsheet_Solutions Capital July 2019
    Published: 21 August 2019 (28 days ago)
    Uploaded: 21 August 2019 (28 days ago)
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    Press Release on Refugees Situation in Malawi

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    Calls for urgent need on food situation in Dzaleka camp
    Published: 21 August 2019 (28 days ago)
    Uploaded: 21 August 2019 (27 days ago)
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    UNHCR Regional Update_DRC situation_June 2019

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    An update on the situation of the DRC refugees and UNHCR’s operations in the region
    Published: 30 July 2019 (1 month ago)
    Uploaded: 30 July 2019 (1 month ago)
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    UNHCR Regional Update_DRC situation_JUNE 2019_AT A GLANCE

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    A brief overview of the situation of the DRC refugees and UNHCR’s operations in the region
    Published: 30 July 2019 (1 month ago)
    Uploaded: 30 July 2019 (1 month ago)
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    Malawi Factsheet

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    UNHCR Malawi Factsheet April 2019
    Published: 1 May 2019 (4 months ago)
    Uploaded: 21 August 2019 (28 days ago)
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    Malawi Factsheet February 2019

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    A snapshot of UNHCR's operations in the Malawi, as of 28 February 2019
    Published: 28 February 2019 (6 months ago)
    Uploaded: 12 April 2019 (5 months ago)
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    MMC WEST AFRICA - 4Mi Snapshot - October 2018

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    Aspirations of refugees and migrants from West Africa.
    Published: 30 October 2018 (10 months ago)
    Uploaded: 14 November 2018 (10 months ago)
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    UNHCR Cyclone Idai Fundraising document - June 2019

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    UNHCR fundraising for Cyclone Idai IDPs in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe
    Published: 26 June 2019 (2 months ago)
    Uploaded: 8 July 2019 (2 months ago)
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    Mozambique situation

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    Outflow into Zimbabwe and Malawi
    Published: 31 March 2017 (2 years ago)
    Uploaded: 3 April 2017 (2 years ago)
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    Mozambique outflow into Zimbabwe and Malawi - Reference map

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    Mozambique outflow into Zimbabwe and Malawi - Map
    Published: 29 November 2016 (2 years ago)
    Uploaded: 29 November 2016 (2 years ago)
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    Mozambique / Malawi Reference map

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    Reference map
    Published: 1 September 2016 (3 years ago)
    Uploaded: 28 November 2016 (2 years ago)
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    Africa - UNHCR Presence

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    UNHCR Presence map
    Published: 3 May 2016 (3 years ago)
    Uploaded: 23 August 2016 (3 years ago)
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    UN Malawi Bulletin

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    UN Malawi Bulletin May - June 2019
    Published: 1 July 2019 (2 months ago)
    Uploaded: 21 August 2019 (28 days ago)
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    Joint UNHCR-WFP Press Release on the refugee situation in Malawi

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    With 35,000 Refugees in Malawi Facing Ration Cuts, UN agencies seek Urgent Funding
    Published: 9 November 2018 (10 months ago)
    Uploaded: 28 March 2019 (5 months ago)
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    DRC 2019-2020 RRRP At A Glance - en

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    A summary of the 2019-2020 Regional Refugee Response Plan for the Congolese refugees in the region
    Published: 11 December 2018 (9 months ago)
    Uploaded: 12 December 2018 (9 months ago)
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    The Democratic Republic of Congo Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) 2019-2020 - Revised in June 2019

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    The Democratic Republic of Congo Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) 2019-2020 - Revised in June 2019
    Published: 30 June 2019 (2 months ago)
    Uploaded: 30 June 2019 (2 months ago)
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    The Democratic Republic of Congo Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) 2019-2020

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    The 2019-2020 Regional Refugee Response Plan for the DRC situation presents the biannual inter-agency effort to capture the needs of Congolese refugees in the region. By the end of 2019, at a first st...
    Published: 11 December 2018 (9 months ago)
    Uploaded: 11 December 2018 (9 months ago)
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    Democratic Republic of Congo Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) 2018 - Revised in May 2018

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    Democratic Republic of Congo Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) 2018 - Revised in May 2018
    Published: 17 July 2018 (1 year ago)
    Uploaded: 17 July 2018 (1 year ago)
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    Malawi Livelihoods Malawi Livelihoods Factsheet

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    Malawi Livelihoods Factsheet_Solutions Capital July 2019
    Published: 21 August 2019 (28 days ago)
    Uploaded: 21 August 2019 (28 days ago)
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    The Solutions Capital Initiative

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    Realizing the Potential of Multi-Year, Multi-Partner Planning
    Published: 1 November 2018 (10 months ago)
    Uploaded: 28 March 2019 (5 months ago)
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    UNHCR Regional Update_DRC situation_July 2019_AT A GLANCE

    document
    A brief overview of the situation of the DRC refugees and UNHCR’s operations in the region
    Published: 9 September 2019 (9 days ago)
    Uploaded: 9 September 2019 (8 days ago)
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    UNHCR Regional Update_DRC situation_June 2019

    document
    An update on the situation of the DRC refugees and UNHCR’s operations in the region
    Published: 30 July 2019 (1 month ago)
    Uploaded: 30 July 2019 (1 month ago)
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    UNHCR Regional Update_DRC situation_JUNE 2019_AT A GLANCE

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    A brief overview of the situation of the DRC refugees and UNHCR’s operations in the region
    Published: 30 July 2019 (1 month ago)
    Uploaded: 30 July 2019 (1 month ago)
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    UNHCR Tropical Cyclone Idai Situation Update - June 2019

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    UNHCR response in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe
    Published: 28 June 2019 (2 months ago)
    Uploaded: 8 July 2019 (2 months ago)
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    UNHCR Regional Update-DRC Situation-May 2019 - AT A GLANCE

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    A brief overview of the situation of DRC refugees and UNHCR’s operations in the region
    Published: 26 June 2019 (2 months ago)
    Uploaded: 26 June 2019 (2 months ago)
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    UNHCR Tropical Cyclone Idai Update May 2019

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    Response in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe
    Published: 3 June 2019 (3 months ago)
    Uploaded: 12 April 2019 (5 months ago)
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    UNHCR Tropical Cyclone Idai Update May 2019

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    Response in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe
    Published: 3 June 2019 (3 months ago)
    Uploaded: 3 June 2019 (3 months ago)
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    Press Release on Refugees Situation in Malawi

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    Calls for urgent need on food situation in Dzaleka camp
    Published: 21 August 2019 (28 days ago)
    Uploaded: 21 August 2019 (27 days ago)
    •   View all (44)

      From Reliefweb

        News
      ...

      Malawi needs K225bn to normalise disaster

      The Nation, 31 Mar 2019

      Minister of Homeland Security Nicholas Dausi says Malawi needs $300 million (K225 billion) to normalise the floods damage after cyclone Idai. Dausi made the remarks at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) yesterday when his ministry received relief items from the United Nations High Commissioner fo... Read more

      ...

      UNHCR donates to people affected by floods

      Department of Disaster Management Affairs, 30 Mar 2019

      The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Saturday, 30 March 2019 donated assorted relief items to people affected by the March 2019 floods. Read more

      ...

      UNHCR rushing staff, supplies to assist people affected by Cyclone Idai

      UNHCR, 22 Mar 2019

      UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is working with governments and humanitarian partners in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi to provide relief to the survivors of the Tropical Cyclone Idai, which struck the east coast of southern Africa on 14 and 15 March. Read more

      ...

      UNHCR launches Yetu Community Radio in Dzaleka refugee camp

      United Nations Malawi, 26 Oct 2018

      etu Community Radio hit the airwaves at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in the central region district of Dowa on 7th August, 2018 becoming the first Community Radio to be set up in a refugee camp in the Southern Africa region. Read more

      ...

      Refugee camp in Malawi gets banking services

      UNHCR, 10 May 2018

      A local bank has opened a branch with full services inside Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi bringing much needed services to its residents Read more

       View more
      Funding information (2019)
      $16,200,000
      Total appeal
      Date of Funding Data 20 March 2019 (5 months ago)
      Operations summary
      Malawi hosts over 38,000 refugees and asylum-seekers. More than half of the refugee population fled from the Democratic Republic of Congo with the remaining population originating from Burundi, Rwanda and other East and Horn of Africa countries. Most of the refugees in Malawi lives in the heavily congested Dzaleka Refugee Camp (near the capital Lilongwe), which was set up in 1994 for some 10,000 people.

      While many of these refugees have been in the country for decades, the situation is not static. Congolese and Burundians continue to arrive at an average of 470 individuals per month. While maintaining open borders for people seeking safety, the Government of Malawi has historically taken a restrictive approach to managing refugee situations by making a number of reservations to the 1951 Refugee Convention. Its domestic legal framework reflects these reservations and consequently refugees face restrictions on their freedom of movement via the encampment policy, experience limited access to social services (such as education) and are restricted from employment.

      The Government of Malawi has however expressed their interest in adopting the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF). Alongside a number of other developments, the country is now moving towards a more progressive approach to hosting refugees. In a statement made to the General Assembly in September 2018, the President of Malawi, Mr. Arthur Peter Mutharika expressed his intentions to develop a comprehensive refugee response framework to be rolled out within its national development strategy.

      • Dzaleka Aerial View

      • Annual Tumaini Festival

      • Microsoft AppFactory

      • Primary school learners

      • Pre-school children at Dzaleka Refugee Camp

      • Dzaleka Aerial View

      • Dzaleka market cements peaceful coexistence between PoC and host communities

      • UNHCR Representative admiring some handicraft from refugees

      • Livelihood interventions is UNHCR's core business as we aim to empower displaced populations to be self-reliant

      • A refugee woman collecting eggs in one of the chicken rearing livelihood interventions by UNHCR through a partner CARD

      • Drawing water

      • Making fritters

      • A local community dance troupe performing a dance popularly known as Beni on WRD at Dzaleka

      • Goat meat swelling at Dzaleka market

      • Cyclone Idai - Airlift to Malawi 30.03.2019

      • Cyclone Idai - Airlift to Malawi 30.03.2019

      • Cyclone Idai - Airlift to Malawi 30.03.2019

        Links
      Malawi on Global Focus
      Malawi on unhcr.org
      UNHCR Malawi on Facebook
      UNHCR Southern Africa on Twitter
        View all
      UNHCRSouthernAfrica


        Malawi
      Worldbank country facts
      Capital
      Lilongwe
      Languages
      en, ny
      Population
      16,310,431
      Area
      N/A
      GDP
      N/A
      GDP growth
      N/A
      Income level
      N/A
      Gini index
      39
      Currency
      MWK
      Literacy rate
      N/A