On 14 January the President of Malawi, Prof. Arthur Peter Munthalika, declared that 15 out of the country’s 28 Districts were registered disaster zones, due to extreme weather conditions causing substantial and devastating flooding. To take action, ICS volunteers working with the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM) and in conjunction with the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) took the initiative to help out some of the victims. Together, an event was prepared on the 28 January to distribute food packages to families who had been victims of the flooding and are still displaced from their homes in the Mulanje and Phalombe Districts.
Fwasani Mhango checking distributed tickets against the list of flood victim names
One of the main reasons to distribute food was because the flooding has unfortunately had a devastating effect on farming within the Mulanje and Phalombe districts. The majority of families living in rural communities have a small area of land where they grow maize, to create their staple food, nsima. Each family’s production of maize usually produces enough to feed them for 8-9 months. Therefore, the flooding hasn’t just left people homeless. Families have also lost their livestock, crops and the security of knowing they will have a source of food for the months ahead. It is a devastating prospect.
Volunteers distributing food packages
The food distribution event took place in the area of Group Village Headman Ndala at Khulubwe Primary School and was also attended by local MP, Honorable Daudi Chida and Traditional Authority Njema. The event was carefully planned; 240 families from Ndunde Village who had lost everything in the floods were presented with a ticket each, allowing them to pick up their food package. Their strength and resilience was inspirational to say the least. MMCT employees and ICS volunteers took the task of distributing the assorted items which included maize, beans, cooking oil, Likuni Phala and salt. Through careful monitoring, the event proved to be a success with the food items reaching the targeted group of beneficiaries who were very grateful for the support. Furthermore, the function was also a prolific event for the ICS volunteers who were very happy and indeed humbled to be a part of the initiative.
Volunteers with MP Daudi Chida handing out cooking oil and salt to a flood victim
At the end of the event, both MP Daudi Chida and the District Council representative, Emily Mazengera thanked the MMCT and the ICS Volunteers for the offered help. They also made a plea for more assistance and support from the cooperate world to help those affected by the flooding disaster.
