A Rwandan refugee leader in the Dzaleka camp said: "Now, we get a fraction of what we previously received, and we can barely survive on the cash we receive. We are now forced to make impossible choices between food and other essentials like soap and medicine.”

Date: 8/25

Region: Africa

Country: Malawi

Topic: Economy & Livelihoods, 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