Rainstorm survivors appeal for humanitarian support

People affected by rainstorms in Machinga District have appealed for humanitarian support.

Speaking in an interview on Monday, Alice James, a survivor from Traditional Authority (T/A) Sale, said the rainstorms destroyed her house.

She said: “I am now homeless. My five children are seeking refuge in other people’s homes.

“In addition, I lost food items and kitchen utensils to the disaster. I appeal to well-wishers to support us with food and resources to reconstruct our damaged home.”

James, who is one of the 171 people affected by the rainstorms in the district, said the situation has affected her children’s education as they also lost their learning materials.

In a separate interview, Machinga District Council spokesperson Martin Chiwanda said they could not help the survivors because the district’s disaster office had run out of funds.

He said the rainstorms injured five people and destroyed a classroom block as well as an Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation building in T/A Mchinguza.

“We have sent a report to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs [Dodma] for support, but the door is open for well-wishers to come in and support us with food and shelter materials,” said Chiwanda.

According to the report sent to Dodma, four T/As of Mchinguza, Sale, Sitola and Mposa have been affected by the rainstorms.

The report says 12 houses have collapsed while 158 have been partially damaged.

Dodma spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula acknowledged having received the report from the district’s disaster office.

He said they are arranging to support the affected households.

Last year, tropical storms Ana and Gombe affected 12 000 households in the district.

According to Dodma, disasters, including floods, rainstorms, hailstorms and lightning have affected 58 401 people in 26 districts this rainy season.