102 Ethiopian refugees intercepted in Malawi
23 August, 2009 | By Lucas Bottoman
(The Daily Times)
Government says it is worried with rampant escapes of some refugees
and asylum seekers from the designated place of stay in the country.
National Coordinator for Refugees Charles Mopiwa expressed the
concern in an interview on Monday following the interception of 102
Ethiopian asylum seekers at Zalewa Road Block on Friday.
“However, we looking for a lasting solution to the problem such as that
they should be screened at border posts during their entry into the
country,” Mopiwa said.
However, Mopiwa admitted that the escape of the refugees could not be
contained within the shortest period of time.
On his part, UNHCR Associate Field Officer (Protection) Michael
Rasmussen said his organisation works hand in hand with government to
look after refugees and asylum seekers.
He said according to international laws to which Malawi is a party,
asylum seekers and refugees are supposed to be allowed free movement
especially after their legal status has been determined.
He, however, observed that Malawi Government takes a long time to
determine the status of asylum seekers when they come into the country.
“Article 12 of International Covenant for civil and political rights states
that asylum seekers should be allowed free movement.
“In Malawi asylum seekers and refugees are socially as well as culturally
integrated. But it is difficult to integrate them legally. Government takes
long for example one or two years to determine the status of asylum
seekers,” Rasmussen observed.
He further said UNHCR helps asylum seekers who get stranded outside
the refugee camp to be repatriated into it.
He added that his organisation also repatriates legally determined refugees
to their home countries upon request.
“Another option for UNHCR is to relocate those with legal status of
refugee to a third country, which is neither their own homeland nor
Malawi,” he said.
However, Rasmussen stressed that under customary international law
called non-refoulment, a country like Malawi is not supposed to send
asylum seekers elsewhere before determining whether they are refugees
or illegal immigrants.
He said this is so because under Universal Declaration for human rights
Malawi has an obligation to protect asylum seekers.
The escape of refugees from Dzaleka Camp keeps on recurring as most
of them use Malawi as a transit to their desired destinations in other
countries like South Africa or United Kingdom (UK).
23 August, 2009 | By Lucas Bottoman
(The Daily Times)
Government says it is worried with rampant escapes of some refugees
and asylum seekers from the designated place of stay in the country.
National Coordinator for Refugees Charles Mopiwa expressed the
concern in an interview on Monday following the interception of 102
Ethiopian asylum seekers at Zalewa Road Block on Friday.
- The Ethiopians escaped from
Dzaleka Refugee Camp in
Dowa.
“The issue of Ethiopian
refugees walking out of
Dzaleka Refugee Camp is quite
a big concern to government
and UNHCR. They want to
leave the country before we
assess their applications.
“However, we looking for a lasting solution to the problem such as that
they should be screened at border posts during their entry into the
country,” Mopiwa said.
However, Mopiwa admitted that the escape of the refugees could not be
contained within the shortest period of time.
On his part, UNHCR Associate Field Officer (Protection) Michael
Rasmussen said his organisation works hand in hand with government to
look after refugees and asylum seekers.
He said according to international laws to which Malawi is a party,
asylum seekers and refugees are supposed to be allowed free movement
especially after their legal status has been determined.
He, however, observed that Malawi Government takes a long time to
determine the status of asylum seekers when they come into the country.
“Article 12 of International Covenant for civil and political rights states
that asylum seekers should be allowed free movement.
“In Malawi asylum seekers and refugees are socially as well as culturally
integrated. But it is difficult to integrate them legally. Government takes
long for example one or two years to determine the status of asylum
seekers,” Rasmussen observed.
He further said UNHCR helps asylum seekers who get stranded outside
the refugee camp to be repatriated into it.
He added that his organisation also repatriates legally determined refugees
to their home countries upon request.
“Another option for UNHCR is to relocate those with legal status of
refugee to a third country, which is neither their own homeland nor
Malawi,” he said.
However, Rasmussen stressed that under customary international law
called non-refoulment, a country like Malawi is not supposed to send
asylum seekers elsewhere before determining whether they are refugees
or illegal immigrants.
He said this is so because under Universal Declaration for human rights
Malawi has an obligation to protect asylum seekers.
The escape of refugees from Dzaleka Camp keeps on recurring as most
of them use Malawi as a transit to their desired destinations in other
countries like South Africa or United Kingdom (UK).
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