The department for refugees in the ministry of homeland security is yet to finalize determination of refugee status of 3, 000 applications in the country for different nationalities.

Senior Administration and Operations manager for the department Hilda Katema Kausiwa told Zodiak Online that this is due to the absence of a chairperson for the refugee committee that is responsible for making final determination on the applications after the valuation process.

“We have created a backlog because of the systems we use,” she said.

In the past, she added, chairman of the committee was secretary to office of the president and cabinet but after review of the law, the responsibility of appointing chairman of the committee was entrusted in the minister for homeland security.

“Though we have stalled for a bit of time in resuming the determination process, we have been assured that the appointment will be done soon,” Kausiwa said.

The 3, 000 applications awaiting final approval are among over 10, 000 applications the department has been receiving over the years from foreigners to be accorded refugee status in the country

In the meantime, the number of refugees at Dzaleka camp in Dowa keep increasing with living conditions also deteriorating demanding urgent attention by responsible authorities and agencies.

Youth and Society believes accelerating review of the 1989 refugees Act which Malawi is using could help resolve the challenges and decongesting the camp which exceeded its holding capacity of 12, 000 persons many years ago.

The camp now accommodates over 55, 000 refugees of different nationalities majority being Congolese.

YAS Executive Director Charles Kajoloweka commends government for initiating the review process of the law to ensure that it is also in line with international standards and international commitments on refugees’ rights and welfare.

“Having said that, we do also know that there are concerns around financing of the review of the law and our role as civil society is to continue engagement with government so that the department for refugees (which is facing challenges) is adequately funded as well as the special law commission (which is facilitating consultations with stakeholders on the review process) said Kajoloweka.

He acknowledged support United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR Malawi is rendering towards the review of law and hopes that government will complement the efforts as the primary duty bearer of human rights protection.

“It is important that government does not only commit in word but also in terms of allocation of resources. So, it is our hope that in this forthcoming (November) budget review, government is going to allocate adequate resources towards the review of the law but also pay attention to the needs of the department because they also have serious resource constraints,” Kajoloweka said.

Provision of basic amenities such as shelter, water and enhanced security by the department at the camp is compromised due to resource constraints, according to Katema-Kausiwa.

Lately the department has been implementing decongestion strategies at Dzaleka camp like establishing settlement structures within the perimeters of the site.

Parliamentary committee members on defense and security committed after visiting the camp to engage key stakeholders before the November seating as it is compiling a report for presentation and deliberation in the August house on the status of refugees in Malawi.