Dodma, WFP establish disaster hub in Nsanje

The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have established a humanitarian staging area at Bangula in Nsanje to fast-track disaster coordination and response.

Dodma says the establishment of the area will help humanitarian partners to coordinate, respond effectively and timely manage disasters as they occur.

Speaking in an interview after the launch in Bangula on Saturday, Dodma commissioner Charles Kalemba said this is one of the milestones that WFP and Dodma have undertaken as it will help to prepare commodities required in case there is a disaster in the Shire Valley.

He said the facility will help to stock commodities and equipment essential during natural disasters.

Said Kalemba: “You may recall that during tropical storms Ana and Gombe, it was difficult for us and other humanitarian partners to serve the affected families as the roads were cut off.

“This facility is an answer to such kind of challenges. We have already stoked food and non-food items such as maize, rescue boats and shelter materials so that response to disasters to serve the affected in Chikwawa and Nsanje will not be as difficult as it has been.”

WFP acting country director Patrizia Papinutti applauded the collaboration between WFP and Dodma in the project.

He said: “The project is crucial as it will enhance coordination during disasters and will also bring together all clusters and organisations in preparedness towards disaster management.”

“It was discovered that coordination is always a challenge during disasters and this development comes to address that challenge to reduce the impact of disasters.”

Malawi Red Cross Society acting response and recovery officer Mercy Chalimba said the area is key in the coordination of disasters.

She said stakeholders used to face mobility challenges when disasters occur and that the establishment of the hub will ensure timely response.

Dodma says such facilities will also be established in upper south in Blantyre, Lilongwe or Ntcheu in the Centre, Mzuzu and Karonga in the North and Mangochi in the Eastern Region.