On 27 January 2025, EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Karsten Mecklenburg and EU Head of Cooperation Eva-Maria Engdahl along with implementing partners made the official handover of the items that included 100 mattresses, 100 blankets, 100 pallets, 100 sanitary pads, 150 diapers and other hygiene kits.

The items, worth over SZL 192 000 (or Euro 10 000), were provided as part of the EU-funded Youth and Women Empowerment & Support (YES) project’s emergency response fund, following a recent on-site assessment carried out by the Ministry of Home Affairs, World Vision and UNHCR.

The event was organised in partnership with COSPE along with the YES project partners such as Luvatsi, Swaziland Rural Women’s Assembly, Kwakha Indvodza and Gcama Mfati.

Handing over the items, EU Ambassador, Mecklenburg, thanked Eswatini for being welcoming to asylum seekers running away from life-threatening situations in their home countries, saying the recent events in Mozambique had led to more refugees at the centre, thus stretching its capacity. He said the EU, through the YES project, was able to identify the Emergency Fund to support the centre.

“For us, it was a matter of importance to support those who are in distress and the government as we are partners, and we are ready to be there if there is a need. We express gratitude for the welcoming atmosphere that the government is creating for the people who are suffering,” said Ambassador Mecklenburg.

In response, Bongekile Mamba, Estate Manager of the Malindza Refugee Reception Centre, thanked the EU and its partners for the support, noting that it came at a time when it was dearly needed.

“Thanks to this valuable support from the EU, some of the families will now have a peaceful night’s sleep with dignity, and they will have mattresses and blankets. The situation was so bad that we sometimes had to ration them the supplies, but now we will be able to give more to those in need,” Mamba said.

She also noted that the centre had good relations with the EU as it was not the first time they had supported them, and they were optimistic that the relationship would continue to last for future years.