By Alick Nzangaya
One of the country’s humanitarian organizations, Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) has donated assorted items worth million of Kwachas to over 190 households which were affected by stormy rains last week.
This is according to MRCS representative Data Team Lead Gumbi Gumbi who was speaking on Friday January 7, 2022 during the distribution ceremony of relief items which took place at Mlonyeni Primary School in Mchinji district.
Gumbi said the donation follows MRCS’s assessment where it was revealed that seven Traditional Authorities in Mchinji district including; T/A Mavwere, T/A Mlonyeni, T/A Nyoka, T/A Gumba, T/A Matuwamba, T/A Kawere and T/A Simphasi were heavily affected by the stormy rains.
The Data Team Lead said the organization thought of doing something upon looking at the effects of the destructive rains which saw roofs of over 150 houses and schools being blown off leaving hundreds of people destitute.
“Well, today we are here at Mlonyeni Primary School where we are donating assorted items to people who were affected by stormy rains last week and as Malawi Red Cross Society, we are geared to respond to disasters of this kind.
“MRCS started preparations for this year’s disaster response as soon as the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services announced the 2021/2022 seasonal forecast,” said Gumbi.
The organisation has since urged people residing in flood prone areas to make sure that they either relocate to safer places or standardize their houses so that they should not be flood victims year in year out.
“In T/A Mlonyeni alone we had over 56 houses totally destroyed by the strong winds and hailstorms and we are now urging people to construct standardized houses so that they stand heavy rains and wind,” added Gumbi.
Gumbi continued by assuring Malawians of continued support from the humanitarian organisation claiming MRCS is fully prepared to respond to disasters this year. Of other items, the affected 190 households were receiving Blankets, Shelter Kits, Taurpulins and Kitchen set from MRCS while DODMA was also distributing bags of maize and rice to the same victims.
Redcross has also mounted two tents, one at Mlonyeni Primary School in Senior Chief Mlonyeni and another at Ntonda Primary school in T/A Nyoka which will pose as temporary classrooms as roofs of some blocks were blown off during the hailstorm.
According to Gumbi, the donation was with support from the European Union Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection.
