Red Cross calls for support to respond to disasters

Malawi Red Cross Society says it will need a lot of money to respond to natural disasters which occur during the rainy season.

The organisation’s president Levison Changole said in an interview in Lilongwe on Saturday that the money required varies every year according to the extent of the disaster.

He said last year, Red Cross used more than K3 billion to help people affected by disaster.

Changole said the money was used in form of cash transfer to the affected people, buying relief materials and building safe houses in upland areas.

He said: “We depend on well-wishers both from within and outside the country. Another challenge is that disasters are rampant in many countries as such international donors automatically look at problems in their respective countries first before they consider supporting others and in that respect we appeal for more local support.”

Changole was speaking on the sidelines of a Christmas party Malawi Red Cross Society hosted for street children in Lilongwe.

About 6 000 kids patronised the party where the organisation gave Christmas hampers comprising a blanket, a packet of rice, laundry and bathing soap and sugar.

Speaking earlier, Lilongwe City Council chief executive officer John Chome said the number of less privileged children is on the rise; hence, the need for more support.

He said the council works with partners, including the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare to take care of street children.

The ministry’s deputy director for social welfare Enock Bonongwe said they will continue to withdraw children from the streets.

He said there are more than 600 street children in Lilongwe alone, with the whole country having more than 2 500.