Vampires Scare U.N. Out Of Malawi

Two districts in Southern Malawi have flushed 2 U.N. employees out of their ranks amidst mob violence in the wake of a vampire infestation scare.

As one of the poorest countries in the world, Malawi is steeped in superstition. Witchcraft is the religion of choice in most rural areas of this poverty stricken nation.

In a report on the situation, the UN Department on Safety and Security (UNDSS) said that the Mulanje and Phalombe districts had been

severely affected by the ongoing stories of blood sucking and possible existence of vampires.

Euronews reports, acting UN Resident Coordinator, Florence Rolle said some staff had been relocated while others remain in the districts depending on “locations of their operations”, but did not specify how many workers were affected.

Fear Frenzy

Lynch mobs accusing people of vampirism had been searching for individuals and blocking roads with at least five people being killed in the area in the last month, said the report.

The rumors are thought to have started in neighbouring Mozambique, but their cause remains unknown.

In 2002 Malawi also saw a spate of vampire-related violence.

Attacks on people with albinism due to a belief in witchcraft were also becoming “human rights crisis,” according to Amnesty International.

Malawian President Peter Mutharika said the reports were “distressing and agonizing”.