A refugee woman who has turned to sex work after U.S. foreign assistance cuts affected her ability to provide for her family said: “I have to do this if I have to take care of my daughter’s needs and make ends meet as our monthly cash transfers were recently drastically reduced.”

Date: 8/25

Region: Africa

Country: Malawi

Topic: Gender Equality & Inclusion, Refugees & Displacement

Policy Lens: Migration & Mobility

Entry Type: Field Observation

Additional Context: Dzaleka camp is located over 40 kilometers from Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, and home to nearly 60,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Somalia, and Rwanda. According to Devex reporting, U.S. foreign assistance cuts have meant that refugees are struggling to survive on dwindling food rations and face rising malnutrition rates, and are increasingly turning to desperate measures such as sex work and theft to support their families.

Established in 1994 to house 12,000 refugees, Dzaleka has long depended on international aid for food, shelter, and health care. The United States was a key donor through a variety of United Nations agencies.

Source: Devex