The humanitarian situation took a turn for the worse following the recent closure of the Nyamithuthu refugee camp in Nsanje District. Left with no clear alternative, over 300 Mozambicans have remained at the site, unwilling to return home and insisting that conditions across the border are still far too dangerous.

“We cannot go back. The situation in Mozambique is not safe,” said one asylum seeker, who asked not to be named. “We need protection.”

The group is appealing to the Malawian government and international agencies to recognise their plight and grant them formal refugee status. Many say they fear targeted violence and persecution should they return.

Dr George Chaima, who heads the New Restoration Plan, a local think tank focused on social policy, weighed in on the crisis. “This is a humanitarian matter that demands urgency and compassion,” he said. “The Mozambicans are not just migrants; they are people fleeing instability. Malawi must work with partners to address this responsibly.”

Conditions for the stranded families remain precarious. Aid groups report shortages of food, shelter, and medical care, with resources stretched thin.

Malawi has long served as a refuge for those escaping conflict in neighbouring countries, but this latest influx poses fresh challenges. Authorities have yet to outline a formal response to the ongoing appeals for asylum, while human rights observers call for immediate intervention to prevent a worsening crisis.

--ChannelAfrica--