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Refugees and asylum-seekers

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations

JSON 
Total number of refugees and asylum seekers JSON 
48,558
Source - UNHCR, Government 
Households*
15,260
Last updated 28 Feb 2021
* Household data may be unavailable for some locations.
Source - UNHCR, Government
Refugees and asylum-seekers by Origin JSON  .CSV 
Country of origin Source Data date Population
Dem. Rep. of the Congo UNHCR, Government 28 Feb 2021
  62.3%
30,234
Burundi UNHCR, Government 28 Feb 2021
  23.0%
11,151
Rwanda UNHCR, Government 28 Feb 2021
  14.2%
6,882
Others UNHCR, Government 28 Feb 2021
  0.6%
291


  Latest Documents
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    Malawi Factsheet January 2021

    document
    A snapshot of UNHCR operations in Malawi as of 31 January 2021
    Published: 19 February 2021 (1 month ago)
    Uploaded: 19 February 2021 (1 month ago)
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    Government of Malawi Daily Update on COVID-19

    document
    COVID-19 SITUATION UPDATE AS OF 20 JANUARY 2021
    Published: 20 January 2021 (2 months ago)
    Uploaded: 21 January 2021 (2 months ago)
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    Government of Malawi Daily Update on COVID-19

    document
    COVID-19 SITUATION UPDATE AS OF 14 JANUARY 2021
    Published: 15 January 2021 (2 months ago)
    Uploaded: 15 January 2021 (2 months ago)
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    Government of Malawi COVID-19 Weekly Situation Report

    document
    Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) Week 1, 2021 (04 to 10 January 2021)
    Published: 14 January 2021 (2 months ago)
    Uploaded: 14 January 2021 (2 months ago)
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    Government of Malawi Daily Update on COVID-19

    document
    COVID-19 SITUATION UPDATE AS OF 13 JANUARY 2021
    Published: 14 January 2021 (2 months ago)
    Uploaded: 14 January 2021 (2 months ago)
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    MMC WEST AFRICA - 4Mi Snapshot - October 2018

    document
    Aspirations of refugees and migrants from West Africa.
    Published: 30 October 2018 (2 years ago)
    Uploaded: 14 November 2018 (2 years ago)
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    Government of Malawi Daily Update on COVID-19

    document
    COVID-19 SITUATION UPDATE AS OF 20 JANUARY 2021
    Published: 20 January 2021 (2 months ago)
    Uploaded: 21 January 2021 (2 months ago)
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    Government of Malawi Daily Update on COVID-19

    document
    COVID-19 SITUATION UPDATE AS OF 14 JANUARY 2021
    Published: 15 January 2021 (2 months ago)
    Uploaded: 15 January 2021 (2 months ago)
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    Government of Malawi COVID-19 Weekly Situation Report

    document
    Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) Week 1, 2021 (04 to 10 January 2021)
    Published: 14 January 2021 (2 months ago)
    Uploaded: 14 January 2021 (2 months ago)
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    Government of Malawi Daily Update on COVID-19

    document
    COVID-19 SITUATION UPDATE AS OF 13 JANUARY 2021
    Published: 14 January 2021 (2 months ago)
    Uploaded: 14 January 2021 (2 months ago)
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    Government of Malawi Daily Update on COVID-19

    document
    COVID-19 SITUATION UPDATE AS OF 11 JANUARY 2021
    Published: 11 January 2021 (2 months ago)
    Uploaded: 11 January 2021 (2 months ago)
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    Malawi Factsheet January 2021

    document
    A snapshot of UNHCR operations in Malawi as of 31 January 2021
    Published: 19 February 2021 (1 month ago)
    Uploaded: 19 February 2021 (1 month ago)
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    Malawi Factsheet

    document
    UNHCR Malawi Factsheet August 2020
    Published: 10 September 2020 (6 months ago)
    Uploaded: 10 September 2020 (6 months ago)
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    Malawi Factsheet

    document
    UNHCR Malawi Factsheet April 2019
    Published: 1 May 2019 (1 year ago)
    Uploaded: 21 August 2019 (1 year ago)
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    Malawi Factsheet February 2019

    document
    A snapshot of UNHCR's operations in the Malawi, as of 28 February 2019
    Published: 28 February 2019 (2 years ago)
    Uploaded: 12 April 2019 (1 year ago)
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    Sub-Saharan Africa - Total population of concern to UNHCR - end 2018

    document
    Sub-Saharan Africa - Total population of concern to UNHCR - end 2018
    Published: 31 December 2018 (2 years ago)
    Uploaded: 24 June 2019 (1 year ago)
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    Government of Malawi Daily Update on COVID-19

    document
    Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) Situation Report
    Published: 24 March 2020 (11 months ago)
    Uploaded: 24 March 2020 (11 months ago)
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    Malawi Funding Situation

    document
    Malawi Funding Update as of 10 November 2020
    Published: 24 November 2020 (3 months ago)
    Uploaded: 24 November 2020 (3 months ago)
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    Malawi Funding Situation

    document
    Malawi Funding Update as of 29 April 2020
    Published: 18 May 2020 (10 months ago)
    Uploaded: 18 May 2020 (10 months ago)
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    Malawi Funding Situation

    document
    Malawi Funding Update as of 10 March 2020
    Published: 25 March 2020 (11 months ago)
    Uploaded: 25 March 2020 (11 months ago)
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    Funding Situation

    document
    Malawi Funding Update as of 11 February 2020
    Published: 27 February 2020 (1 year ago)
    Uploaded: 27 February 2020 (1 year ago)
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    UNHCR Cyclone Idai Fundraising document - June 2019

    document
    UNHCR fundraising for Cyclone Idai IDPs in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe
    Published: 26 June 2019 (1 year ago)
    Uploaded: 8 July 2019 (1 year ago)
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    Mozambique Situation - Outflow into Zimbabwe and Malawi - end july 2017

    document
    Mozambique Situation - Outflow into Zimbabwe and Malawi - end july 2017
    Published: 20 July 2020 (8 months ago)
    Uploaded: 28 August 2017 (3 years ago)
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    Southern Africa Region - Persons of Concern - as of mid-2018

    document
    Southern Africa Region - Persons of Concern - as of mid-2018
    Published: 20 July 2020 (8 months ago)
    Uploaded: 5 December 2018 (2 years ago)
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    Southern Africa Region - Persons of Concern - as of 31 Dec 2017

    document
    Southern Africa Region - Persons of Concern - as of 31 Dec 2017
    Published: 20 July 2020 (8 months ago)
    Uploaded: 12 March 2018 (3 years ago)
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    Malawi - April 2008

    document
    Map in Adobe Acrobat format related to a UNHCR operation
    Published: 20 July 2020 (8 months ago)
    Uploaded: 18 February 2011 (10 years ago)
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    Mozambique/Malawi - as of September 2016

    document
    Mozambique/Malawi - as of September 2016
    Published: 20 July 2020 (8 months ago)
    Uploaded: 23 February 2017 (4 years ago)
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    UN Malawi Bulletin

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

    document
    With 35,000 Refugees in Malawi Facing Ration Cuts, UN agencies seek Urgent Funding
    Published: 9 November 2018 (2 years ago)
    Uploaded: 28 March 2019 (1 year ago)
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    DRC 2019-2020 RRRP At A Glance - en

    document
    A summary of the 2019-2020 Regional Refugee Response Plan for the Congolese refugees in the region
    Published: 11 December 2018 (2 years ago)
    Uploaded: 12 December 2018 (2 years ago)
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    The Democratic Republic of Congo Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) 2019-2020 - Revised in June 2019

    document
    The Democratic Republic of Congo Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) 2019-2020 - Revised in June 2019
    Published: 30 June 2019 (1 year ago)
    Uploaded: 30 June 2019 (1 year ago)
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    The Democratic Republic of Congo Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) 2019-2020

    document
    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 (2 years ago)
    Uploaded: 11 December 2018 (2 years ago)
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    Democratic Republic of Congo Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) 2018 - Revised in May 2018

    document
    Democratic Republic of Congo Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) 2018 - Revised in May 2018
    Published: 17 July 2018 (2 years ago)
    Uploaded: 17 July 2018 (2 years ago)
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    Representative visit to Dzaleka Refugee Camp

    document
    First official visit to Dzaleka Refugee Camp by new UNHCR Representative
    Published: 24 February 2020 (1 year ago)
    Uploaded: 27 February 2020 (1 year ago)
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    New UNHCR Malawi Representative

    document
    New Representative presents her credentials to Foreign Affairs Ministry
    Published: 17 February 2020 (1 year ago)
    Uploaded: 27 February 2020 (1 year ago)
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    Malawi Livelihoods Malawi Livelihoods Factsheet

    document
    Malawi Livelihoods Factsheet_Solutions Capital July 2019
    Published: 21 August 2019 (1 year ago)
    Uploaded: 21 August 2019 (1 year ago)
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    The Solutions Capital Initiative

    document
    Realizing the Potential of Multi-Year, Multi-Partner Planning
    Published: 1 November 2018 (2 years ago)
    Uploaded: 28 March 2019 (1 year ago)
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    Government of Malawi Daily Update on COVID-19

    document
    Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) 31 March 2020 Situation Report
    Published: 1 April 2020 (11 months ago)
    Uploaded: 1 April 2020 (11 months ago)
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    Government of Malawi Daily Update on COVID-19

    document
    Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) 30 March 2020 Situation Report
    Published: 31 March 2020 (11 months ago)
    Uploaded: 31 March 2020 (11 months ago)
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    Government of Malawi Daily Update on COVID-19

    document
    Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) 29 March 2020 Situation Report
    Published: 30 March 2020 (11 months ago)
    Uploaded: 30 March 2020 (11 months ago)
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    UNHCR Regional Update - DRC situation October 2019

    document
    An update on the situation of the DRC refugees and UNHCR’s operations in the region
    Published: 1 December 2019 (1 year ago)
    Uploaded: 20 December 2019 (1 year ago)
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    UNHCR Regional Update - DRC situation August 2019

    document
    An update on the situation of the DRC refugees and UNHCR’s operations in the region
    Published: 1 October 2019 (1 year ago)
    Uploaded: 30 October 2019 (1 year ago)
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    Government of Malawi Daily Update on COVID-19

    document
    Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) 24 March 2020 Situation Report
    Published: 25 March 2020 (11 months ago)
    Uploaded: 25 March 2020 (11 months ago)
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    UNHCR Tropical Cyclone Idai Update May 2019

    document
    Response in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe
    Published: 3 June 2019 (1 year ago)
    Uploaded: 12 April 2019 (1 year ago)
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    UNHCR Tropical Cyclone Idai Update May 2019

    document
    Response in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe
    Published: 3 June 2019 (1 year ago)
    Uploaded: 3 June 2019 (1 year ago)
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    Malawi Factsheet

    document
    Malawi Factsheet Dececember 2019
    Published: 31 January 2020 (1 year ago)
    Uploaded: 27 February 2020 (1 year ago)
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    Press Release on Refugees Situation in Malawi

    document
    Calls for urgent need on food situation in Dzaleka camp
    Published: 21 August 2019 (1 year ago)
    Uploaded: 21 August 2019 (1 year ago)
  •   From Reliefweb

        News
      ...

      Banking services bring a glimmer of hope to refugees in Malawi's Dzaleka camp

      African Business Magazine, 27 Feb 2020

      A bank branch in a Dzaleka Refugee Camp – the first of its kind in the world to be set up in a refugee camp is providing banking services and credit to residents, many of who are setting up their own businesses. Read more

      ...

      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

      UNHCR COVID-19 preparedness and response in Dzaleka Refugee Camp
      Quarantine site where all new arrivals are being quarantined for 14 days undergoing screening and observation before being allowed to mix with other refugees.
      Funding information
      $16,200,000
      Total appeal
      Operations summary
      As of 31 January 2021, UNHCR has registered 48, 547 refugees and asylum-seekers. More than half of the refugee population fled from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the remaining population originating from Burundi, Rwanda and others from the East and Horn of African countries. Most of refugees in Malawi live in the heavily congested Dzaleka Refugee Camp which has 15,521 households located near the capital Lilongwe and was set up in 1994 to accommodate just about 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 several reservations to the 1951 Refugee Convention. Its domestic legal framework reflects these reservations and consequently refugees face restrictions on their freedom of movement through the encampment policy, experience limited access to social services and are restricted from employment. The Government of Malawi has already enrolled the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) despite an Inter-Ministerial CRRF Steering Committee yet to adopt the 5 pledges Malawi made during the Global Refugee Forum and the Roadmap for the implementation of the GCR-CRRF. One of the five pledges Malawi made during the GRF is “legal and policy” reform to ensure some of the 9 reservations, including; the encampment policy, restricted freedom of movement, restricted choice of place of residence by the refugees, access to public schools and access to employment are lifted. Pending the adoption of the five pledges and the Roadmap, UNHCR and its partners, using the Solutions Capital continues to impellent key CRRF activities in the areas of settlement approach, decongestion of Dzaleka refugee camp, livelihoods and self-reliance and advocacy with government on legal and policy reforms/changes.
      MALAWI DAILY COVID-19 UPDATE


        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