Catholic Development Commission of Malawi (Cadecom) has disbursed K75 million to 500 food-insecure households in Nsanje District to enable them buy food during the lean season.
Speaking on Saturday during cash transfer at Mpomba Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Malemia in the district, Cadecom project officer for Chikwawa Diocese Lewis Suzumire said each household will receive K100 000 to buy maize.
He said: “With support from Caritas Internationalis through Episcopal Conference of Malawi, we got K75 million to disburse in Nsanje for
relief food.
“In Nsanje we are targeting 500 households from group village head [GVH] Mpomba in T/A Malemia, people in GVH Kalonga in T/A Mbenje and those in GVH Sambani in T/A Mlolo.
“We want the households to secure food to ease hunger emanating from the
prolonged dry spells in the previous growing season.”
Malemia Area Disaster Risk Management Committee chairperson Arnold Benn asked beneficiaries to use the money to buy food.
“The donors will not be happy to hear that you spent the money on less important things,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Enegess Kaphesi, said she will use the money on food.
“My family of six children used to go to bed on empty stomach. I thank Cadecom for the gesture,” she said.
GVH Kalonga, whose subjects relocated from T/A Mlolo to T/A Mbenje following devastating floods in recent years, said the cash transfers came at the right time.
“Yes, government through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs always supports us with food, but we need more assistance,” she said.
Nsanje district disaster officer Daniel Mandala thanked the organisation for complementing government’s efforts to provide people with relief food.
