Ambassador Robert Scott Visits Dzaleka Refugee Camp

Dowa, Malawi – U.S. Ambassador to Malawi, Robert Scott visited the Dzaleka Refugee Camp managed by the Government of Malawi and supported by the United States Government (USG) and other donors. He was accompanied by the Secretary for Homeland Security and Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Samuel Madula, UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Maria Jose Torres, UNHCR Country Representative, Ms. Monique Ekoko, and WFP Country Representative, Benoit Thiry.

Ambassador Scott met with the camp leadership and toured the various components of the camp including the food distribution center, primary school, livelihood center, and health center. The USG, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), provides funding to help the WFP procure and distribute food commodities, such as maize, beans, vegetable oil, and corn-soy blend to refugee families. This assistance contributes to sustaining food and nutrition security for the refugees. USAID’s support to the Dzaleka Refugee camp is an example of how the USG partners with the Government of Malawi and with UN organizations to address Malawi’s complex food security challenges.

After touring the camp Ambassador Scott noted that “The United States is concerned for the welfare of refugee communities and coordinates closely with countries who host refugees. I congratulate the Government of Malawi on the UN agencies active on their work to support the residents of Dzaleka Refugee Camp.”

In September, USAID contributed 230 metric tons (MT) of Corn Soy-Blend Plus (CSB+) valued at MK 246 million ($335,000 USD) to support nutrition programs in Malawi. WFP will use120 MTs of this CSB+ contribution in the Dzaleka Refugee Camp (targeting pregnant and lactating women and children under two years old) and 110 MTs of CSB+ in seven districts (Balaka, Phalombe, Blantyre, Zomba, Chikawawa, Nsanje, and Dedza) to support moderate-malnutrition treatment programs through community health clinics.

Since 2013, the USG has contributed approximately MK 4.4 billion ($6 million USD) to WFP to provide food assistance for refugees in Malawi. The USG’s support for food assistance in Dzaleka is closely aligned with the Government of Malawi’s strategies and priorities for supporting the welfare of refugees and host communities.

This article was first published by The US Embassy

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