Don’t misuse relief items, people told

Save the Children has advised Tropical Cyclone Freddy survivors in Traditional Authority Kuntaja in Blantyre District not to misuse relief items.

Speaking on Friday when the organisation distributed food and non-food items in group village head Thanganyika, Save the Children health and nutrition project manager Mercy Kaluwa said the relief items were meant to lessen the suffering of about 295 survivors at Chikondi Community-Based Childcare Centre.

She said: “We are an organisation that primarily champions the rights of children, including those with disabilities. That is why we have responded to the disaster.

“We also target other vulnerable groups, including pregnant and breastfeeding children.”

Kaluwa said they will also provide health and nutrition services to the survivors.

“We have donated Likuni Phala to improve the nutrition of children because they are going with food at the camp. We are also looking into water and sanitation issues at the camp,” she said.

Area Civil Protection Committee chairperson William Mpata said heavy rains destroyed houses in six villages in the area.

He said an eight-year-old boy sustained injury and was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre.

“These people have lost property, including utensils and food items. They need urgent humanitarian assistance to bring them back to their feet,” he said.

Tiyanjane Gatama, 22, who lost a house to the disaster, said life was tough at the camp.

“I thank Save the Children for donating relief items to the camp. It was difficult to get food. I pledge not to misuse the items,” she said.

Save the Children also donated to victims in Ndirande Township in Blantyre. The organisation is also expected to donate to survivors in Chikwawa and Nsanje districts.