Dzaleka (Malawi) : police demolish two refugee homes

Malawi police accuse two Ethiopian refugees of harboring armed bandits. Their homes were demolished on Monday. Dzaleka camp has been the scene of armed robberies recently.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

An impromptu search was carried out in two households in the area called “Karonga” in Dzaleka camp.

“The police came to look for unknown persons, who turn out to be armed bandits who are hiding in these houses. However, no suspects were found there. One of the chiefs of household was then arrested and is held in the police cell,” a neighbor testifies.

The police reportedly had information that these two houses also housed “undocumented immigrants heading for South Africa.”

For the moment, there is total desolation after the partial destruction of the two houses of these Ethiopian refugees.

“We don’t yet know why the police destroyed these houses while women and children live there. Even if one of the occupants, even the chief of the family, is accused of something, it is not everyone’s fault because responsibility must be individual,” say other refugees who helplessly watched what they call “criminal and inhumane acts.”

The police explained that “any troublemaker’s home will be destroyed to discourage any criminal act.”

Last week, firearms were found in one of the areas of the camp. Since then, the police have vowed to redouble their efforts to secure the camp, which is overcrowded, according to the administration.

Dzaleka has more than 50,000 refugees – including more than 11,000 Burundians, five times more than its capacity.

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The houses of the two Ethiopian refugees demolished by the Malawian police (SOS Médias Burundi)