Crisis in Malawi: UN Warns of Severe Hunger in Dzaleka Refugee Camp
Severe hunger threatens over 57,000 refugees in Malawi’s overcrowded Dzaleka camp after the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced drastic funding cuts. The Rome-based agency revealed a 40% drop in financial support this year, warning of an unprecedented global crisis that could affect 58 million people relying on life-saving aid. Without immediate intervention, refugees in Dzaleka may face starvation by May, with children and the elderly most vulnerable to malnutrition.
Simon Denhere, WFP Malawi deputy country director, stated that cash assistance could halt entirely if no further funding arrives. “We might completely halt the cash assistance in May if we don’t receive any further funding,” Denhere told reporters in Lilongwe. Refugees currently depend on a monthly stipend of 15,000 Malawian Kwacha ($9) for survival, an amount already insufficient to meet basic nutritional needs. Most inhabitants, fleeing conflict in DR Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi, have no income due to Malawi’s strict employment restrictions for refugees, leaving them entirely dependent on dwindling aid.
Camp manager Elton Phulusa expressed grave concerns, stating that a suspension of food aid would lead to chaos. “Food is a big problem in the camp. If the WFP halts the distribution, it will be chaos because these people don’t have anything to rely on,” Phulusa told AFP. The WFP urgently needs $10.7 million to sustain full rations until December 2025. Meanwhile, refugees like Rwandan community leader Joyce Wamuyu fear the worst, as families queue under scorching heat for what may be their last food allowance. “No one works here, so it will be difficult for us to survive,” Wamuyu lamented, echoing the fears of thousands facing imminent food insecurity.
Severe Hunger Looms as Funding Dries Up
The WFP has not singled out specific donor nations, but the United States—its largest contributor—has significantly reduced aid since 2017, with further cuts under the current administration. Germany and Britain have also slashed overseas assistance, worsening the crisis across multiple refugee camps globally. Malawi is among 28 countries where the WFP faces severe funding shortages, with food supplies critically low until August and no immediate relief in sight.
Denhere emphasized that without urgent contributions, severe hunger will become inevitable by midyear. “All the 57,000 refugees might be at a risk of severe hunger by May if we do not receive any contributions from our development partners,” he warned. The Dzaleka camp, located 40 km north of Lilongwe, hosts refugees with no alternative means of survival. Many have lived there for years, relying entirely on WFP’s cash-based system, which now teeters on collapse. A disruption in aid would leave thousands without food, healthcare, or necessities, potentially triggering a humanitarian catastrophe.
Refugees like Wamuyu describe the looming cuts as traumatic, with parents already skipping meals to feed their children. “We’ve survived wars only to face starvation in peace,” one Congolese refugee told reporters. The WFP’s warning highlights a broader humanitarian emergency as global funding shifts leave vulnerable populations at risk. With inflation driving up food prices locally, the $9 monthly stipend buys less each month, exacerbating the crisis.
Global Aid Cuts Deepen Refugee Crisis
The funding crisis reflects a troubling trend in international aid reductions, with donor nations prioritizing domestic concerns over humanitarian obligations. Wealthy nations, facing economic pressures and political shifts, are diverting funds away from programs supporting refugees and displaced persons. The WFP’s plea for $10.7 million underscores the dire need to prevent severe hunger in Dzaleka, where malnutrition rates could double without intervention. Medical staff in the camp report rising cases of anemia and stunted growth in children, warning of long-term developmental impacts if nutrition isn’t stabilized.
Malawi’s government maintains strict policies preventing refugee employment, leaving camp residents entirely dependent on aid despite many possessing skills and education. Phulusa warns that chaos will erupt if food distributions stop, with potential security risks as desperate families compete for scarce resources. Past funding shortages have already forced ration reductions, but a complete halt would be catastrophic. “We’re talking about people who have nowhere else to go,” Phulusa stressed. The WFP urges donor nations to act swiftly before the situation spirals out of control, emphasizing that preventive action costs far less than emergency response.
As refugees await uncertain futures, the international community’s response—or lack thereof—will determine whether thousands starve or survive. The WFP’s alert serves as a stark reminder that severe hunger is not an abstract threat but an immediate, preventable disaster. Other aid organizations working in the camp, including UNICEF and Medicins Sans Frontieres, report similar funding challenges, creating a perfect storm of deprivation. Without coordinated action, Dzaleka may become the epicenter of a preventable famine.
Local and International Response
Malawian officials acknowledge the crisis but cite limited resources to assist the refugee population. “We’re doing our best with what we have, but this is ultimately an international responsibility,” said a government spokesperson. Local NGOs have launched small-scale feeding programs, but these can only reach a fraction of those in need. Some refugees have resorted to dangerous survival strategies, including early marriages for teenage girls and illegal border crossings in search of work.
Internationally, advocacy groups are pressuring traditional donor nations to restore funding levels. “This isn’t just about Malawi—it’s about maintaining the global humanitarian safety net,” said one Geneva-based aid coordinator. The WFP is exploring emergency measures like airlifting high-nutrient biscuits, but these are stopgap solutions. Long-term, the agency emphasizes that only sustained funding can prevent severe hunger from claiming lives.
Climate change compounds the crisis, with erratic rains reducing local food production. Malawi already faces food insecurity among its native population, creating tension between refugees and host communities. “When people see aid going to refugees while their children go hungry, it creates social problems,” explained a local community leader. This complex dynamic requires nuanced solutions that address both refugee needs and host community concerns.
A Call for Immediate Action
The severe hunger crisis in Dzaleka refugee camp demands urgent global attention and coordinated action. With funding at record lows, 57,000 lives hang in the balance—each day of delay brings them closer to starvation. The WFP’s appeal for $10.7 million represents a lifeline for those with no other options, but time is running out. If the world fails to act, Malawi’s refugees will face unimaginable suffering, with children bearing the brunt of this preventable tragedy.
International donors must prioritize humanitarian aid to avert disaster, recognizing that today’s funding cuts will lead to tomorrow’s famine. The alternative—widespread starvation and its attendant consequences—is morally unconscionable and strategically shortsighted. As the WFP struggles to sustain operations amid global indifference, the clock ticks relentlessly for Dzaleka’s most vulnerable. The time for empty promises has passed; the time for action is now.
