Malawi on Tuesday received about 19 000 metric tonnes (MT) of maize from Ukraine for the 2024/25 El Nino Food Insecurity Response Initiative to be distributed to 5.7 million Malawians facing hunger.
Sweden, France, the Netherlands and Korea provided the funds for the Grain from Ukraine (GfU) Initiative to deliver food to the needy in the country.
The GfU is an initiative of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy launched in November 2022 to export grain and other food products to countries facing food crises such as Malawi.
Speaking during a media briefing at World Food Programme (WFP) Limbe Warehouse in Blantyre on Tuesday, Ukraine Ambassador to Kenya Andrii Pravednyk said they are committed to be the guarantors of food security across the world.
“Despite the Russian invasion, we continue our efforts to assist those in need,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the donors, Swedish Ambassador designated to Malawi Per Lingarde said they are pleased to support Malawi to address food insecurity caused by El Nino-induced drought.
WFP country director Paul Turnbull said in partnership with Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma), they are ensuring smooth distribution of the food to intended beneficiaries.
On the other hand, Dodma commissioner Charles Kalemba thanked the countries for the contributions and supporting WFP response through the GfU initiative.
