Amid a crippling drought characterised by a delayed onset of rains and prolonged dry spells, refugees at Dzaleka Camp in Malawi received funds last month to prepare for the new agricultural season.
These funds were facilitated as part of the African Risk Capacity (ARC) Group’s response in Malawi, in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) through the Replica Programme.
The programme enables humanitarian organisations to replicate government-level climate risk management policies, extending insurance coverage to refugee populations and internally displaced persons, who are often excluded from national insurance schemes.
Through the Replica Programme, the UNHCR secured a policy on behalf of refugees in the country, resulting in a $400,000 payout.
This included refugees at Dzaleka Camp, located in the Dowa District of Malawi, about 40 kilometers from the capital, Lilongwe. The camp receives an average of 300 new arrivals each month, with 62% from the Democratic Republic of Congo, 19% from Burundi, 7% from Rwanda, and 2% from other nationalities.
Originally established to host 10,000 to 12,000 persons of concern (PoC), the camp now accommodates over 52,000 individuals. Agriculture—a vital sector for over 80% of the Malawian population, providing both subsistence and income—was hit the hardest. Pastures and water sources for livestock also diminished, exacerbating the challenges faced by communities already grappling with food insecurity.
These conditions, compounded by the El Niño phenomenon, constitute the largest humanitarian emergency that Malawi has ever confronted, with 6.5 million people in need of humanitarian aid.
UNHCR’s Mojisola Terry, commented, “Refugees and displaced people often live in temporary shelters or camps, which are particularly vulnerable to climate events. Many of these areas also face resource scarcity, and the added stress of climate change can lead to severe shortages, resulting in increasing tension and conflict within refugee communities.”
The Republic of Malawi received a $11.2 million payout, allocated to over 235,000 households in the Lower Shire and Southern regions where crop failures were the worst. Additionally, cash transfers were provided to approximately 118,000 households in the Central region.
The African Development Bank financed the insurance payment through its African Development Fund and Africa Disaster Risk Financing (ADRiFi) Programme Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
In August, The Government of Malawi and UNHCR received insurance payouts of just over $11.6 million from the African Risk Capacity (ARC) following the 2023/23 El Niño-driven drought.
