The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) says 85 441 households will receive relief maize in Chikwawa District under the 2024/25 Lean Season Response Programme.
Speaking on Saturday during the launch of the programme in the district, Dodma director of preparedness and response Moses Chimphepo said this was an increase from 48 000 households that received relief food during a similar programme last year.
“We have mobilised enough resources and support to reach out to these households with a 50 kilogramme bag of maize each per month for five months,” he said.
Minister of Water and Sanitation Abida Mia, who was the guest of honour at the launch, commended Dodma for using guidelines under the Joint Emergency Food Assistance Programme to identify beneficiaries as this has allowed the most vulnerable people to be targeted.
On his part, World Food Programme country director Paul Turnbull said it was important for the country to step up the food assistance response and start distribution early because of the impact of the El Nino.
One of the beneficiaries, Nevelia Chikopa of Mwalija Village, Traditional Authority Kasisi, said people in the area were struggling to get food because they did not harvest enough food following the dry spells.
“We will now get the opportunity to do our work instead of spending the time in search of food,” she said.
The distribution of relief maize under the Lean Response Programme started on Wednesday in Blantyre and is targeting 1.3 million households or 5.7 million people nationwide.
Also present during the launch were Deputy Minister of Local Government, Culture and Unity Owen Chomanika and Paramount Chief Lundu.
