Red Cross gives flood victims K66 million

Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) has given K66 million cash transfers to 1 500 households that survived floods in Karonga.

MRCS communications and humanitarian diplomacy manager Felix Washoni said at Kaporo in the district on Saturday that the money, which is a grant from the Danish Red Cross, is meant to support the victims after they returned to their homes.

“When disasters hit, people lose their property. On top of the support we gave them immediately the disaster hit, we have come back to give them money through cash transfers so that they can earn a living out of it.

“As Red Cross, we look at the holistic nature of a human being. So, going by our principle, which is humanity. We want these people to have all the basic needs in their households,” he said.

Floods in Karonga displaced over 6 000 households. The affected families were evacuated into camps.

Karonga District Council meteorological officer Victor Phiri said the victims returned to their homes last month with start-up packs of maize and beans, beddings and sanitary kits.

“The coming in of Red Cross has complemented these efforts because the victims have been in their homes for a month now which means the start-up packs might have been depleted,” he said.

Phiri said the council is encouraging the victims to rebuild their homes in upland areas to mitigate the effects of floods. n