UNHCR, Botswana help flood victims
By Peter Kanjere:
United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and Botswana Government have donated relief items to victims of floods that have ravaged Malawi, killing at least 60 people, displacing 86,980 and injuring 672.
Homeland Security Minister, Nicholas Dausi, received the relief items, the ministry’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) confirmed the development through its Facebook page.
UNHCR sent the relief items to Malawi through an Ethiopian Airlines cargo plane which landed at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe on Saturday morning, carrying tents, mosquito nets, solar lamps, duvets, cooking oil, kitchen utensils and clothes, among others.
Dausi commended UNHCR for the donation which will cater for the 868,900 affected people especially in Chikwawa and Nsanje districts.
“On behalf of the Malawi Government, I am so grateful for the donation. This [donation] will go a long way in assisting people affected by the floods,” Dausi said.
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UNHCR Country Representative, Monique Ekoko, said her organisation would continue to assist Malawi in times of need.
“Malawi has been a good partner and a friend in times of need. She has been hosting our people at Dzaleka [Refugee Camp] and we needed to assist her in this time of need,” Ekoko said.
On Friday morning, a plane from Botswana Defence Force arrived at Chileka Airport in Blantyre, carrying one tonne of corned beef, 10 tonnes of children’s food supplements, four tonnes of beans and 500 blankets.
Tanzania and South Africa governments have also assisted Malawi in dealing with the disasters.
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