Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) has distributed maize to 487 households affected by rainstorms in traditional authorities (T/As) Mphonde and Kafuzira in Nkhotakota District.
Speaking on Wednesday during the handover, one of the beneficiaries, Cecilia Skana from Mvula Village, T/A Mphonde, thanked Dodma for coming to their rescue.
She said the rainstorm early this month destroyed her house and some property.
“I was stranded and life became difficult because I had no food, but now I have something to eat,” said Skana.
She said the bag of maize will take her a long way as she dedicates her time to working in her garden and looking for other resources to repair the home.
Another beneficiary, Robert Khuka from Chidzuma Village in T/A Mphonde said he had no money to buy maize.
“A 50 kilogramme of maize is selling at K50 000, which I cannot raise. This maize will enable us concentrate on our gardens,” he said.
Khuka advised fellow beneficiaries not to sell the maize as doing so will defeat the purpose of the humanitarian assistance.
Nkhotakota District Council disaster and risk management officer Rhomatchinga Nkhata described the donation as timely.
“We are pleased the 487 households finally have something to eat,” he said.
This is the second time this year Nkhotakota is experiencing natural disasters. In February, the district experienced floods which displaced people in T/As Kanyenda and Mphonde.
