Minister of Homeland Security Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma has once again sent a warning to refugees and asylum seekers who have returned to the country’s rural and urban areas after being relocated back to Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa district.

Ng’oma made the remarks at a press briefing held on Wednesday at Capital Hill.

Ng’oma said that refugees and asylum seekers who are residing outside the camp must return to Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa district within seven days failure of which will risk revocation of their status.

Additionally, Ng’oma stated that refugees and asylum seekers are supposed to follow laws of the country by registering with the government through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services.

“The revocation
of the refuge status will come in as a way of allowing those not willing to be protected as refugees and asylum seekers to consult the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services for the processing of a different legal status.

So we have notified those refugees and asylum seekers who have returned back in rural and urban areas that they should go back to Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa within seven days starting from 9th August up to 16th August 2023,” he explained.

Ng’oma further expressed concern over the World Food Program ( WFP) decision to cut the provision of food ration to Dzaleka Refugee Camp by 50% from 75% effective 1st August, 2023.

Meanwhile,Ng’oma has disclosed that 98 refugees and asylum seekers have volunteered to go back to their respective countries.

Further, the Homeland Security Minister has said that he is committed to ensuring that the new refugee camp is opened at Kayilizi in Chitipa district.