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People in northwestern Mozambique continue to flee to Malawi due to clashes

Xinhua, January 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

The number of Mozambicans running away from clashes between the main opposition Renamo and government troops in the northwestern province of Tete continues to increase, local media reported on Wednesday.

Over the last few weeks, clashes between the Frelimo-led government forces and armed men of the former rebel movement have been driving people out of the Tsangano district to other areas inside Tete and the neighboring country Malawi, seeking asylum there, local newspaper O Pais quoted the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) as reported that.

In the village of Kapise, Mwanza district in southern Malawi, some 100 km south of the country's capital Lilongwe, UNHCR registration teams have recorded the arrival of 1,297 people, two thirds of them women and children, with over 900 people awaiting registration.

Another 400 new arrivals have been reported in 16 villages located further south in the district of Chikwawa. It is a strain for the Malawian government.

"UNHCR is working with the government to coordinate the response to assist these newly arrived refugees," UNHCR spokesperson Karin de Gruijl was quoted as saying.

The Renamo men burn homes with people inside dying, according to Gruijl.

"Some parents also stated they have been separated from their children during fighting, and they have not been able to find them," she added.

In mid-2015, UNHCR and the government of Malawi recorded some 700 arrivals from Mozambique in the same area.

UNHCR provided relief items, such as blankets, tents, domestic items and agricultural tools. Agreements were made with the national and local authorities for the refugees to be hosted in local communities as it was believed at that time the situation would be temporary.

In the past few weeks, however the situation has changed with more and more people crossing into Malawi.

The Refugee Agency assists the government with the registration of new arrivals and the provision of tents, as well as domestic utensils, mattresses and other basic relief items.

The World Food Program is providing food and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is already on the ground with a mobile clinic.

Malaria is a major concern and the number of patients seen daily has increased from 70 to 250. With the looming fear of a cholera outbreak, MSF has been quick to drill two boreholes and are planning on drilling a third to improve the water supply.

The UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, is also involved in giving a hand to the victims by putting up temporary latrines and washrooms to avert health disasters and has also provided two large tents where children can play and learn.

The government of Malawi is considering reopening Luwani refugee camp, which previously hosted refugees from Mozambique during the civil war between 1977 and 1992, when over a million Mozambican refugees fled to neighboring Malawi.

The fighting ended in 1992, following a general peace agreement the two signed in the Italian capital, Rome. Enditem