NGOs irk DC on relief items
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) distributing relief to disaster victims in Machinga have incurred the wrath of the district commissioner (DC) for not dispersing widely their assistance.
There are 29 469 displaced households in Machinga due to heavy rains that caused flooding and collapsed houses a fortnight ago.
Among the displaced groups is 59 363 children up to age 18.
Machinga DC ReinghardChavula said the NGOs have concentrated in areas such as traditional authorities (T/As) Mposa, Chamba and Nkula to cut down on logistical costs.
Worst hit include Chikwewo, Chawinga and part of Liwonde.
The NGOs have claimed that the T/As they are working in are their impact areas, but the DC has argued that in times of disasters, what is important is saving the lives of people.
Said Chavula: “As a district, we know where the disaster has struck, but our partners won’t listen to us. The life of a human being should come first, not donor restrictions.”
She has since spoken to the NGOs strongly and warned that she would turn back assistance if it is not directed to the camps with the most camps.
Meanwhile, some of the people who sought refuge in camps have left the emergency shelters, which were 32, but have been reduced to eight due to lack of food and other items in the camps.
Chiefs had to plead with people to stay with relations or well-wishers when they became hungry and tired of waiting for relief.
Chavula said the district response team has not been able to distribute the relief items dropped at her office because of fuel shortage.
The relief items include maize, chlorine, salt and blankets from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) and plastic sheets from Catholic Development Commission among others.
“The relief items from Dodma are still here. I requested for fuel and was promised it would come on Saturday. People are suffering in the camps, but we have maize and other items in storerooms here,” Chavula said.
The district’s resource mobilisation team sourced a truck through Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining AtupeleMuluzi, who is also Machinga North-East member of Parliament, but the items reached few T/As.
