WFP cuts food rations to refugees
The World Food Programme (WFP) has admitted facing some procurement challenges that have triggered a reduction, and distribution delays, in food rations for some 21 000 refugees the country hosts at Dzaleka Refugee Camp and Karonga transit shelter.
WFP reports fellow, Kaitlin Hodge, however, assured in response to a questionnaire that the organisation is committed to overcoming the challenges and to providing normal supplies and services to the vulnerable people.
The monthly food ration of 13.5 kilogrammes, comprising mainly maize, per refugee has since June been reduced by almost half to 6.5 kilogrammes.
“WFP remains committed to providing life-saving food assistance to the refugee population of Malawi.
“Without access to arable land or any tangible means of earning a living, refugees in Malawi are highly dependent on food and material assistance provided by WFP, UNHCR [United Nations High Commission for Refugees] and NGOs [non-governmental organisations]. WFP appreciates the continued support of donors towards meeting the food and nutrition needs of this vulnerable group,” said Hodge.
She said the reduction in the rations resulted from resource constraints and not recent increases in the number of refugees in the country.
Said Hodge: “Recent increases in the refugee population in Malawi are within WFP’s operational planning figures and are not the cause of the reduction of ration sizes. If and when new resources are received, WFP will resume providing full rations to Malawi’s refugee population at Dzaleka camp and Karonga transit shelter, including those who have recently arrived.”
She said the decision to reduce the food rations was agreed to by all the stakeholders including representatives of the refugees.
She added that the initial commodity gaps resulted in delays to start the June distributions, which began in early July, after advance funding was received. She said July distributions are ongoing.
A woman refugee from Burundi—who sought anonymity—confided in The Nation that the reduced and delayed rations have been painful.
“This has been a worrying development because, even when we were receiving the bigger portion [of 13.5 kilogrammes each], the food was hardly enough. This is why most of us, refugees, try to make ends meet by indulging in small-scale businesses. Now, the halving of the ration is a shocking and unpalatable development,” she lamented.
Recently, some 700 Mozambican refugees entered Mwanza fleeing reported insecurity in the border areas of Moatize in Tete Province. n
