History of Dzaleka

Establishment in 1994

Dzaleka was opened in 1994 by the Government of Malawi and UNHCR as conflicts in Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo displaced people across the Great Lakes region. The site was planned for a population of roughly 10,000 to 12,000.

Over time, Dzaleka shifted from an emergency site into a protracted settlement. New generations grew up in the camp while continuing conflict and insecurity in countries of origin brought further arrivals.

Consolidation after Luwani

In 2007, the Government of Malawi ordered the closure of Luwani camp. UNHCR reported that approximately 3,000 people were transferred to Dzaleka, increasing its population from about 5,000 to more than 8,000. Schools and medical facilities faced immediate pressure as residents and staff were moved.

The same year, the Government and UNHCR conducted a registration exercise to improve population records and individual profiles. The exercise illustrates why historical totals should be treated as dated measurements rather than fixed numbers.

Rapid growth

Population growth accelerated during the 2010s and early 2020s as people continued to arrive, particularly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda. UNHCR reported more than 52,000 residents at the end of 2024, over four times the camp’s planned capacity.

A community as well as a camp

Three decades of settlement produced institutions and public life not captured by the idea of a temporary camp alone. Residents established businesses, schools, faith communities, cultural organisations, media, advocacy groups, and technology programmes. Humanitarian systems remain central, but Dzaleka’s history is also a history of resident-led social, cultural, and economic organisation.