Helen Mebrahtu, UNHCR Representative a.i. for Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Photo: UNHCR Malawi

UNHCR has called for stronger protection of refugees, better access to public services and renewed action to address statelessness in Malawi.

In a statement marking World Refugee Day 2026, Helen Mebrahtu, UNHCR Representative a.i. for Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, said the day should serve as both a show of solidarity and a call for action.

This year’s theme, “Until Everyone is Safe,” focuses on the right of people forced to flee their homes to seek safety and protection.

Mebrahtu said the right to seek asylum is especially important during conflict, persecution and other crises.

The commemoration also marks 75 years since the adoption of the 1951 Refugee Convention and 65 years since the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

The 1951 Convention remains the main international agreement governing refugee protection, while the 1961 Convention sets out measures to prevent people from being left without a nationality.

According to UNHCR, Malawi currently hosts about 63,000 refugees and asylum-seekers in Dzaleka Refugee Camp.

Mebrahtu recognised Malawi’s role in providing safety to people displaced from their countries, but said more needs to be done to ensure refugees can access education, healthcare, civil registration, social protection and livelihood opportunities.

She said including refugees in national systems can help them become more self-reliant while also benefiting host communities.

The statement also pointed to challenges affecting refugees, including economic pressure, misinformation, stigma, limited resources and delays in administrative processes.

These problems, UNHCR said, can leave refugees and asylum-seekers in uncertainty for long periods.

Statelessness was also raised as a serious concern.

People who cannot acquire or prove their nationality may be unable to access education, healthcare, employment or legal identity documents.

Malawi has not yet joined the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. UNHCR said accession would strengthen the country’s efforts to prevent statelessness and improve cooperation with regional and international partners.

Mebrahtu called on governments, civil society organisations, academic institutions, development partners, refugees and host communities to work together to improve refugee protection.

She said efforts should focus on improving asylum systems, expanding access to services, addressing misinformation and finding long-term solutions for displaced and stateless people.

“As we mark World Refugee Day in 2026, let us reaffirm our commitment to stand in solidarity with those forced to flee, to uphold their rights and to work tirelessly toward a future where everyone is safe and everyone belongs,” she said.

World Refugee Day is observed every year on 20 June.