Stakeholders at the National Level Lessons Learnt Workshop for Mozambique Asylum seekers have commended Malawi Red Cross Society’s role during the Population Movement response, when Malawians recently hosted some Mozambican Refugees in Nsanje and other bordering districts.
Facilitated by Malawi Red Cross Society and the Department of Refugees, the meeting reviewed all areas that were earmarked beginning from the registration and screening processes of the refugees to repatriation and camp decommissioning process.
During the Response from December 2024, MRCS provided Restoring Family Links services, Supported Clearing the camp site, designing of the camp set up and pitching of all the tents, Cash and food distribution, supporting decommissioning of the camp and closing activities.
MRCS is currently supporting the host communities with WASH and interventions such as drilling and rehabilitation of boreholes and rehabilitation of pit latrines in schools that hosted the asylum seekers.
District Commissioner for Nsanje Mr. Dominic Mwandira applauded MRCS for the timely interventions. “We had a number of partners who supported the district and we are so thankful to them all. Let me in particular thank Malawi Red Cross for being among the first partners to support the council. MRCS is still on the ground where it is now helping the host communities with some infrastructure development such as latrines, and some solar powered water systems.” Said Mwandira.
Commissioner for Refugees in Malawi General Ignatius Maulana called for a strong coordination system during such responses, while commending MRCS for the coordination.
“If line Partners are not working as a team, such responses would continue experiencing challenges, Organizations such as Red Cross do recognize that coordination role, that is why we are here reviewing the response, they know it is vital”
MRCS Acting Director of Programs and development Leonard Maganga has since called for sharing of actionable recommendations by all partners in the cause for an effective future response.
The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) supported the Population Movement response through the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF)I kn