The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) has announced that a total of K314.06 billion, in cash and kind, has been mobilised since March this year to support households affected by El Niño.
Following El Niño-induced floods and prolonged dry spells, President Lazarus Chakwera declared a state of disaster on March 23, 2024 and appealed for local and international support for those affected.
Chakwera declared a state of disaster in 23 of Malawi’s 28 districts in anticipation of a poor harvest caused by the climatic event, which left over two million people in need of food assistance.
He estimated that close to 600,000 metric tonnes of maize, valued at K357.6 billion, would be required for the humanitarian response.
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“Dodma has been coordinating the provision of relief assistance and donations to the affected, following the development and implementation of the National El Niño Prolonged Dry Spells and Floods Response Appeal.
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“The total sum of mobilised financial and in-kind resources amounts to K314.06 billion,” Dodma said in a statement released Monday.
The statement, signed by Dodma Commissioner Charles Kalemba, indicates that donations have come from, among others, the Malawi Government, foreign governments, bilateral and multilateral organisations, humanitarian partners, companies, religious bodies, associations and individuals of goodwill.
“There are some organisations that have made donations directly to affected people without notifying Dodma or the affected councils. These, for lack of information, are not included in the list above,” the statement reads in part.
The statement indicates that Dodma will soon issue a detailed report on the utilisation of the resources.
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Some of the in-kind resources include maize and maize flour, totalling up to K38.6 billion, while cash donations amount to K275.4 billion.
In an interview Monday, Dodma spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula said they are still receiving support and are targeting 5.7 million people.
The government is currently implementing the 2024-25 lean season response programme, aimed at providing humanitarian food assistance to the same population.
Beneficiaries are receiving a 50-kilogramme bag of maize or equivalent cash per household per month.
