Hindus donate K32m relief items to flood victims
The Shree Hindu Seva Mandal community has donated 100 tonnes of assorted items worth K32million to 3 300 households sheltered at Nyachilenda and Bitilinyu camps in Nsanje.
Speaking when making the donation on Sunday, Shree Hindu Seva Mandal trustee Harish Kanabar reiterated the need to provide sustainable resources to people affected by disasters in the country.
He said: “We were born here, we have done our education here, we are doing businesses here and we will possibly die here. So, it is high time we assisted our colleagues who are in need.
“We are providing each household with a 25kg bag of maize, plastic sheet, 2kg of maize seed, Likuni Phala, salt, milk and a hoe. The provision of farm inputs is meant to sustain the future of those affected by the floods. If they replant, they would support themselves in the next few months.”
One of the beneficiaries, Melia Thom, thanked the Hindu community for the support, saying the maize seed would help them in winter cropping so that they can harvest some maize in a few months’ time.
On his part, Department of Disaster and Management Affairs (Dodma) director responsible for response and recovery Haris Kachale applauded the Hindu community for the support, saying the items would assist the affected as they return to their respective areas to settle without much challenges.
“We are now asking them to consider returning home and plant the seed they have received. We are sure that if they plant them now, in three months’ time, they will have their own food. We, therefore, commend the Hindu community for partnering with Dodma to help those affected,” he said.
Government, through Dodma, launched a Flood Response Plan on 28 March 2019 following President Peter Mutharika’s declaration of a State of National Disaster on March 8.
About 868 900 people were affected by the floods in 15 districts; with 86 980 people displaced and 60 people dead.
