Norwegian ambassador impressed with Unicef, WFP cyclone response
Norwegian ambassador Ingrid Marie Mikelsen has said she is impressed with the way United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and World Food
Programme (WFP) are handling Cyclone Freddy response. She said this at Namatuni Primary School Camp for displaced people in Traditional Authority (T/A) Nthiramanja in Mulanje on Wednesday when during a visit to the area.
Said the ambassador: “I am happy with the roles Unicef and WFP are playing to ensure that people who were displaced because of Cyclone
Freddy are being taken care of.
“We understand how tough it is to leave your houses because of the cyclone. We will continue to assist the displaced so that their lives
can normalise.
Mikelsen disclosed that Norway will provide $2 million (K2 billion) to Unicef and WFP to continue with the recovery response.”
WFP deputy country director Simon Denhere said his organisation is trying its best to ensure that the displaced people are taken care of.
He said so far, about two million people were affected and over 500 people were reported to have died.
Said Danhere: “Even before the cyclone came, we were already on the ground trying to strategise on how to deal with it.
“I also want to thank councils and traditional leaders for the assistance they gave in the recovery processes.”
Mulanje district commissioner David Kayonanga Gondwe said all nine T/As were affected by Cyclone Freddy, with Ndanga, Njema and Juma the
worst.
He said a number of structures in the district were damaged, including those belonging to Blantyre Water Board and Malawi Revenue Authority.
Village Head Gojo appealed to well-wishers to assist his people to return to their villages so that learning can resume.
He said: “Since their houses were destroyed, they are staying at the school. I appeal to well-wishers to assist them so that they return to
their places.
“I am saying this because pupils are not learning here because they are staying in their classes. This is affecting the right to education
of our children.”
