Authorities in Malawi have arrested greater than 400 refugees and asylum-seekers on Thursday, together with 100 kids, within the capital, Lilongwe.
The crackdown happened two months after the federal government issued an ultimatum for individuals to return to Dzaleka, an overcrowded camp north of town.
“This operation is particularly focusing on refugees and asylum seekers and it’s additionally making an attempt to flush out unlawful immigrants. So, these foreigners which can be right here with legitimate documentation, with the correct authorization, they should have no trigger for fear”, promised Patrick Botha, Malawi Ministry of Homeland Safety Spokesperson.
Malawi is residence to virtually 70,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, in keeping with the UN’s refugee company, the UNHCR.
Most reside in Dzaleka, a refugee camp arrange in 1994 to accommodate about 12,000 individuals however presently internet hosting greater than 56,000 refugees.
“By shut of enterprise yesterday, we had round 400 that have been picked. They’re in transit as a result of they need to be sieved as a result of some might need correct documentation, some might need paperwork validating them as refugees or asylum seekers. However there is also some that don’t have any documentation in any respect”, stated the ministry spokesperson.
Most refugees and asylum-seekers in Malawi come from the conflict-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, in addition to Rwanda and Burundi.
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