By Cathy Maulidi:
Youth and Society (Yas) has filed a formal complaint with the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) against the Department of Immigration and Citizenship over what it calls the mistreatment of asylum seekers in Karonga.
In the letter that we have seen signed by Yas Executive Director Charles Kajoloweka, the organization alleges that the asylum seekers in the district are facing multiple acts of mistreatment and something needs to be done.
“We are deeply concerned about the dire situation of asylum seekers in Karonga, who have been denied timely access to necessary documentation and forced to sleep outside immigration offices without food or shelter,” Kajoloweka said in the letter.
According to Yas, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship verbally instructed officers to halt the processing of arriving asylum seekers in March 2024, leaving many stranded for over nine months.
“This is a clear violation of international human rights standards and Malawi’s obligations under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,” further reads the letter.
Yas has documented cases of asylum seekers, including children and pregnant women, being forced to sleep outside immigration offices for weeks without access to basic necessities.
“We urge the Malawi Human Rights Commission to investigate these allegations and take immediate action to address the human rights violations faced by asylum seekers,” Kajoloweka has said in the letter.
The organization has also called on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to immediately process all asylum seekers currently encamped at Karonga Immigration offices and facilitate their transfer to the designated Dzaleka Camp.
“It is unacceptable that asylum seekers are being denied their rights and forced to suffer due to the department’s failure to fulfill its duties,” said Kajoloweka.
Yas has also urged MHRC to provide leadership in engaging relevant state actors, UN agencies, and non-state actors to address these concerns and find solutions to the challenges faced by asylum seekers.
“We look forward to the commission’s prompt attention to this matter and extend our gratitude for their cooperation,” Kajoloweka said.
MHRC Executive Secretary Habiba Osman confirmed receiving the letter.
The Immigration department spokesperson Wellington Chiponde requested for more time before commenting on the matter.
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