MALAWI: Catholic Development Commission Rescues Families with Relief Packages
Stella Zulu
Areas over southern Malawi spreading to the central region experienced torrential rains, very strong winds and floods resulting in falling of trees, power lines and infrastructure damage due to tropical storm Ana, starting from Sunday 24th January 2022. According to report by DODMA issued on 26th January, a total of 48, 216 Households (216, 972 people) were affected and displaced by floods and heavy rainfall and over 20 people lost their lives and more than hundred people sustaining various degrees of injuries.
The Catholic Development Commission (CADECOM) of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi has been responding to the crisis with various items to help the people rebuild their lives. Currently, the Commission in partnership with Oxfam has been assisting the Cyclone Ana survivors in three districts of Nsanje, Chikwawa and Phalombe with cash amounting to K30,000 per household and non-food items which include blankets, buckets, plates, cups, soap and wrappers to more than 25000 beneficiaries to enable them purchase food and other essential needs.
This has been possible through the Rapid Emergency Response to Tropical Cyclone Ana in Malawi project with funding from European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Office (ECHO) with a goal of improving the survivors’ wellbeing.
Mayeso Peter of Jombo village, Traditional Authority Ngabu in Chikwawa district is one of the survivors whose house was tossed to the ground rendering him and his family destitute. He also lost property including livestock. He expressed gratitude for the donation.
“I am so grateful for the items and the money I have received, I will use the money to make bricks and eventually build a house”. Said Mayeso
Member of Parliament for Nsanje Central, honorable Kafandikhale Mandevwana hailed CADECOM and partners for the humanitarian response to the affected families.
“I wish to thank CADECOM for the relief package, although this might not be enough to sort all the people’s needs, I am sure the families will use it to buy food and also purchase learning materials for school going children.”
The cyclone Ana has caused numerous problems in the districts which forced families to move to evacuation camps. There is also looming hunger in most areas as crops were washed away by the floods.
