Malawi paying price for global pollution—ambassador

Iceland ambassador Inga Dora   has said cyclones Malawi is experiencing is the price it is paying for global pollution.
She said this at Group Village Head (GVH) Mpama in Traditional Authority (T/A) Makhuwira in Chikwawa on Thursday after visiting
people who were affected by Cyclone Freddy.

Said Dora: “What I have seen [devastation] is a result of climate change. Malawi is not polluting the globe if we compare with
industrialised countries. Those countries are polluting the world and Malawi is paying for this.
“Houses, crops and livestock of innocent people are being destroyed. The world needs to come together and find solution to this. Malawi
also needs to be supported.”

She said when they heard about tragedy, the people of Iceland decide to act by providing assistance.
The country provided about K115 million. The ambassador said she would lobby for more support as she observed that many Malawians were
affected.

Accompanied by Danish/Norwegian Church Aid country director Havard Hovdhaugen, Dora visited a place where the house of Watson Masiya
stood.

“I lost everything to the cyclone and life is tough for me. Things happened so fast that when the water came, it was too late to save
even a cup,” he said.

And speaking during the gathering, Hovdhaugen said they are working hard to ensure that cyclone survivors are assisted.
“There is enormous destruction here that government alone cannot manage to reach everywhere. This is the reason we complement it in
some places, especially here in Chikwawa where we have other projects,” he said.

Foundation for Civic Education and Social Empowerment (Focese) gender and protection coordinator Dalitso Kachiwala said they are working to
ensure that women and girls are protected from all forms of violence. GVH Mpama said they have been experiencing cyclones for the past three
years. He called on the people to avoid cutting down trees anyhow.

During the event, 700 households received K35 000 each to assist them in their recovery plans while 300 girls received dignity kits.
One of the recipients, Alinafe Limpu, said she wants to start a small-scale business to support her family.