single default
The Plight of Mozambican Asylum Seekers in Malawi
Imagine fleeing your home with nothing but the clothes on your back, uncertain of how you will survive in an unfamiliar place. Days pass, and you are still wearing the same clothes, without a mobile phone to contact loved ones, without money to buy food, and with no support in sight.
This is the reality for many Mozambican asylum seekers who fled to Malawi following the post-election unrest that began in October 2024.
As of the end of January 2025, Nsanje hosted approximately 11,416 asylum seekers across its two camps, Tengani and Nyamithuthu; while Chikwawa had 88 Mozambican households held at Chang’ambika Community Day Secondary School.
Eighty-five-year-old Sand Chikoti arrived at Tengani Camp on Monday, January 27, after fleeing Morrumbala, a district in Mozambique’s Zambezia Province.
When we met him on Thursday that week, he had yet to receive a meal, as most assistance in Nsanje had been directed to the main camp at Nyamithuthu, about 27 kilometres away.
“I returned home that day to an empty house—my wife and three grandchildren had fled, and I still have no idea where they are. Life here is difficult; at times, we have had to share a single cup of maize porridge among several people due to lack of resources,” Chikoti explains.
Additionally, without a mat or mattress, he and many others sleep on the bare ground inside a crowded tent sheltering men and women of all ages, as well as children.
When heavy rains flood the tent, they cannot sleep. The lack of basic necessities like plates, pots, and cooking utensils also adds to the difficulties, forcing them to take turns using the few available ones while others face each day with empty stomachs.
At Nyamithuthu Camp, conditions are similarly dire. Overcrowding has compromised the quality of life, and the asylum seekers lament the slow response of aid.
“Two families occupy each tent. My wife, children, and I take one side, while another family occupies the other. There is no privacy. Water shortages are another problem—a tanker delivers water twice daily, but it is never enough for everyone,” an asylum seeker, Felix Mcheni reports.
He adds: “food is also scarce. We received a one-time maize supply and K25,000 (about $14) in monetary support, but it didn’t last. In terms of education; only pre-school lessons are currently available.”
Meanwhile, primary school children are not in school and authorities are working on solutions.
Nonetheless, authorities acknowledge the challenges asylum seekers face. Tengani Camp Management Chairperson, Tobias Kawerawera, concurs that many lack even a small amount of maize flour for porridge and go to bed hungry.
“This group has received no aid because most humanitarian assistance is directed to Nyamithuthu Camp where they are transferred after registration. The fortunate few with relatives at Nyamithuthu get a share of some items from them when they receive aid,” he says.
The growing concerns over food shortages prompted action from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA), which has been distributing food items.
Nevertheless, the government affirmed its commitment to addressing the pressing needs of asylum seekers in the camp.
Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has provided shelter and addressed the sanitary needs within the camps, offering some relief to those enduring these harsh conditions.
As Inua Advocacy, we recognize that the plight of asylum seekers remains a critical concern, requiring immediate and sustained support to uphold their dignity and survival. Additional aid is urgently needed through UNHCR, DoDMA, or the World Food Program (WFP) to assist them.
