Illovo distributes K100m relief items in Dwangwa

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llovo Malawi (plc) has donated K100 million worth of relief items to flood survivors in Dwangwa, Nkhotakota District.

The humanitarian assistance followed floods that hit the area in February this year, which destroyed property and infrastructure.

Speaking during the handover on Friday in Traditional Authority Kanyenda, Illovo Malawi head of legal and corporate affairs Maureen Kachingwe said they mobilised funds to buy relief items.

“The money was used to buy tents which can house 300 people, 1 000 mosquito nets, 1 000 blankets, 500 sets of pots with each set having four pots, solar torches, buckets, cooking oil, beans and salt.

“Most of the beneficiaries are the elderly, people with disabilities and other vulnerable members of society.”

Kachingwe said although the floods occurred several months ago, the community continues to face the impact.

“When communities suffer, businesses suffer too. This is why it is crucial for us to be good neighbours and support those in need,” she said.

A beneficiary Dyvas Chisemphere, a person with albinism, thanked Illovo for the relief.

“It has not been easy in the past months. Apart from hunger, we lack basic things. It is not easy to get back to normal life as we lost property, land and homes. We need more people and organisations to come in and help,” she said.

Nkhotakota acting district disaster officer John Manda said the situation was still critical and thanked Illovo for the help.

“We are in recovery process. Despite the camps being decommissioned, people are still suffering in terms of food and shelter and other needs. We have been experiencing disasters till last month because of high levels of water in the lake,” he said.