Red Cross Program Reunites Refugees with Family Members

DOWA, Malawi — When the phone rings, 80-year-old Veronica Bononga's frail hands tremble with anticipation. For a moment, she forgets the hardships of the past decade as she connects with family members still in the Democratic Republic of Congo, writes Ireen Kayira.

"Each call brings a mix of emotions; sometimes I feel happy, sometimes I cry," says Bononga, a refugee from Dzaleka Refugee Camp who was separated from her family after fleeing conflict. Through the Red Cross Restoring Family Links (RFL) project, refugees at Dzaleka can reconnect with lost relatives.

Bononga’s story is especially heart-wrenching. After arriving in Malawi, she learned her two sons had died in the conflict. The Red Cross services became her lifeline, allowing her to hear the voices of family members, even if the reunion is uncertain.

Asami Juma, who arrived in 2019, regularly uses the service to contact his family in Congo, while Venaso Akembe hopes the Red Cross can trace his parents, separated by war. The RFL program also helps unaccompanied minors, providing vital support such as phone calls, Wi-Fi, and tracking services.

"Even though I don't know if I'll ever find them, just knowing they are working to help me gives a small sense of hope," says Akembe.

Despite Dzaleka's overcrowded conditions—hosting over 61,000 people, well beyond its intended capacity—partnerships like the one between the Malawi Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross offer hope for refugees to reconnect and rebuild their lives.

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