Red Cross flies in K1bn relief items
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies yesterday became the latest global organisation to donate to Malawi flood victims as relief efforts for the estimated 200 000 displaced persons continue.
The consignment of different items valued at about K1 billion flew into the country through Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) on a chartered plane.
“The items consist of 9 000 kitchen sets, 8 000 shelter construction materials and 8 000 mosquito nets. Distribution will start as soon as possible and in the next one or two weeks, we should be done.
“The materials will be taken to a number of districts such as Phalombe, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Nsanje and Mangochi so that we do not concentrate in one affected area,” said Ethel KaimilaNamarhiya, secretary general of the Malawi Red Cross Society
However, she said from the perspective of the Malawi Red Cross, more still needs to be done on the ground.
KaimilaNamarhiya mentioned shelter, food, health, water and sanitation as critical needs in the affected districts.
Meanwhile, another consignment is expected to arrive in the country next week through Chileka International Airport with more relief items, including medicines and chlorine for treating water to avert a cholera outbreak in the flooded areas.
