People call for help following dry spells

People of Traditional Authority Mbenje in Nsanje District have appealed for humanitarian assistance, saying the prolonged dry spells affected their crops.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, group village head Annie Petro said those affected by the dry spells have nothing to eat.

He said: “We commend the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) for supporting people affected by Cyclone Freddy with cash transfers and maize.

“However, those affected by dry spells were left out and we request that they be assisted too.”

The chief also asked non-governmental organisations and other well-wishers to support them with farm inputs to venture into winter cropping to produce their own food.

“We want cassava cuttings and potato vines to plant at Mtowe and Nyafisi irrigation schemes,” said Petro.

Joyce Wilson, a community member from Zhuwaki Village, said the food they had ran out before harvest time.

“We banked our hopes on the crops, but the dry spells have limited crop yield, with most of us facing a possibility of hunger because we will not harvest anything,” she said.

But Nsanje District Council disaster risk management officer Daniel Mandala said they were using the 2023 Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (Mvac) report data that showed that the district had at least 29 111 food-insecure households.

“Mvac is responsible for conducting assessment to know the food deficit in the country, including in Nsanje District. When the results are out, Dodma uses those figures to respond.

“In case of dry spells, Mvac is responsible for assessment then they will submit a report to Dodma for response.”

On supporting the people with farm inputs, Mandala also said Dodma will engage relevant stakeholders for support.