The World Food Programme (WFP) has said its support to refugees in the country beyond May this year is uncertain.
WFP interim country representative Simon Denhere said in an interview yesterday after the organisation distributed cash support to refugees and asylum-seekers at Dzaleka Refugees Camp in Dowa.
Said Denhere: “We are in a very awkward position where the refugees might be hit by severe hunger if we don’t secure an alternative funding by May. We require $10.7 million to restore food rations for refugees by December this year. If we don’t receive any funding from our partners we will not have any option but to halt.”
Deputy Commissioner for refugees, Ivy Chihana, said if the situation remains as it is there will be a serious problem for the refugees because WFP i s n o t t h e only inst itution facing financial challenges.
Said Chihana in an interview: “I would say that government would be willing to come in but as I have said earlier on, WFP is not the only one having economic challenges. Maybe as we go government will be in a position to bring in some support but I should say that it is not as promising.”
On his part, Dzaleka Refugees C a m p admini s t rator Elton Phulusa e x p r e s s e d concern about the situation, saying that already the support the camp has been getting was not sufficient.
The refugees have been receiving 50 percent of what they used to receive since February this year following reduced support from the financiers of the organisation.
Phulusa f ur ther said the camp which was designed for a maximum of 15 000 refugees and asylum-seekers now hosts 57 000 individuals.
According to him, only 30 percent of the population are able to fend for themselves as they are engaged in economic activities.
He said: “Halting the support from WFP would bring chaos and that would be very pathetic. It can bring about so many challenges including theft in the community as the residents of the camp would be struggling to find survival means.”
He suggested supporting them with livelihood programmes such as agriculture and small scales businesses.
On the livelihood programmes, Phulusa said other stakeholders are supporting a handful of refugees with farm inputs to grow crops at an irrigation scheme in the peripherals of Dzaleka Refugee Camp.
As of December 2024 there were 5 667 refugees and asylum seekers in the country with those from the Democratic Republic of Congo topping the list followed by those from Burundi and Rwanda.
Rwandan community leader at Dzaleka Refugee Camp Joyce Wamuyu said that there are some people at the camp who cannot work or do any business due to age and physical disability.
She said these people deserve to be considered for food relief programme.
