MALAWI: People of Dowa Applaud the Catholic Church for Distributing Relief Supplies
CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF LILONGWE
By Brenard Mwanza
The Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe has provided vital relief food supplies to drought-affected residents of Madisi in Dowa district as part of a broader initiative to support vulnerable communities.
The relief effort comes in response to the drought caused by El Nino weather early last year, which severely impacted local food production.
On Monday, January 2, 2025, a total of 500 households received essential food items including maize, cooking oil, beans, and Likuni Phala, aimed at enhancing nutrition, especially for children under five.
One of the beneficiaries, Falaviano Binalison, expressed gratitude for the timely assistance, highlighting the immediate relief it provided in a difficult time.
“The limited harvest by farmers made the alleviating donations critical for the community’s survival,” said Traditional Authority Chakhaza.
On behalf of the archdiocesan central administration, Reverend Father Charles Phiri, the Archbishop’s Secretary stated: “The relief effort embodies the church’s mission to address both spiritual and physical needs of the communities.”
CADECOM’s archdiocesan Secretary Madalitso Chilalire indicated that beyond immediate help, the church plans to offer long-term solutions, including training in sustainable farming and distribution of planting materials.
“We intend to offer planting materials such as cassava, sweet potato vines, and six fruit trees per household. The goal is to help communities to adapt to future climate shocks and secure long-term food security”, emphasized Chilalire.
The aid is part of the church’s Integrated Response and Resilience Project initiated on December 27, 2024, targeting the affected parts of Nkhotakota and Dowa districts.
The Church has since maintained its appreciation for the Austrian Catholics through Missio Austria who contributed financially in response to the archbishop’s appeal.
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