Dzaleka Refugee Camp

Identity and location

Dzaleka Refugee Camp is in Dowa District in Malawi’s Central Region, approximately 41 kilometres from Lilongwe. The Government of Malawi and UNHCR opened the camp in 1994 for people displaced by conflicts in the Great Lakes region. It was planned for between 10,000 and 12,000 residents.

Although it is officially called a camp, Dzaleka has become a long-term settlement with homes, schools, markets, places of worship, media, cultural venues, sports groups, workshops, community organisations, and humanitarian facilities. Many residents have lived there for years; some children and young adults were born there.

Population and communities

UNHCR reported more than 52,000 residents at the end of December 2024. The largest national groups were from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda, followed by smaller populations from Somalia, Ethiopia, and other countries. UNHCR stated that women and children made up 93 per cent of the camp population at that reporting date.

Population totals change as people arrive, depart, are resettled, repatriate, or have their registration records updated. This encyclopedia therefore presents every population figure with its source date.

Administration and services

The Government of Malawi is responsible for refugee administration. UNHCR coordinates protection and assistance with government departments, UN agencies, humanitarian partners, and refugee-led and community organisations. Service providers and programme coverage change over time.

The camp’s original capacity has been exceeded several times over. This affects housing, classroom space, health care, water, sanitation, waste collection, and public space. A 2024 UNHCR fact sheet described Dzaleka as highly congested, with poor living conditions and infrastructure despite ongoing service improvements.

Economy and public life

Dzaleka has an active informal economy that includes shops, food businesses, tailoring, transport, mobile-money agents, repair services, private schools, creative enterprises, and online work. Legal and practical restrictions on movement and formal employment limit many livelihood options, while aid funding and food assistance remain important to household survival.

Public life also extends beyond humanitarian services. Yetu Community Radio broadcasts in five languages, Tumaini Festival has connected refugee and host communities through arts and culture, and local organisations have developed programmes in education, technology, health, advocacy, and enterprise.

Using this entry

This page is the main entity record for Dzaleka Refugee Camp. Detailed articles below document individual topics and organisations. For current contacts and opening hours, use the service directory; for historical and research records, use the linked sources and resource library.