Cyclone Idai victims plead for support
Cyclone Idai victims in Mulanje have asked for more support from well-wishers.
The call was made on Friday during a tour organised by the Presbyterian World Service and Development in partnership with Churches Action in Relief and Development (Card).
Cecilia Tchale, a victim from Kunselema Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Ndanga, said this year’s crop prospects are not promising.
“We don’t expect to realise bumper harvests due to floods that washed away crops. Therefore, we appeal to well-wishers for support,” she said.
Card programme manager Arthur Lichenya, whose organisation has been supporting the communities since December 2019 with food and cash, said they conducted financial literacy programmes to ensure that people buy food.
He said: “We budgeted K182 million to help affected households recover from their loss.”
Canadian Food Grains Bank board member Pastor John Bannevman, who was on a fact-finding mission on Card’s interventions, said the victims needed assistance quickly.
“We have seen the situation in their gardens.
Mulanje district commissioner Michael Chimbalanga commended the initiative, but warned traditional leaders against demanding part of the relief items from beneficiaries.
He also asked organisations implementing recovery projects to speed up food distribution and cash disbursement because sometimes they delay.
Card is implementing a four-month Cyclone Idai Malawi Flood Response Phase Two Project from December 2019 to next month targeting 1 600 households in T/As Ndanga and Juma with funding from Canadian Food Grains Bank.
