US pumps K4 billion into cyclone, cholera response
By Cathy Maulidi:
United States of America (USA) has announced two new grants to address immediate humanitarian needs that have come due to Tropical Cyclone Freddy’s devastating impacts and the cholera outbreak.
Announcing the news, USA Ambassador to Malawi David Young said the K4 billion assistance is part of his government’s efforts to help the country recover from the cyclone and cholera.
The grants have been channelled through the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef), World Food Programme (WFP) and the US Agency for International Development (USAid).
“Through these grants, Unicef, WFP and USAid will partner Malawi Government to deliver urgently needed food, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene (Wash) supplies and other relief items.
“USAid will partner WFP to provide life-saving food assistance and urgent helicopter support to airlift medical supplies, food and other relief items to communities and medically evacuate patients still cut off by flood waters,” Young said.
In partnership with USAid, Unicef is also expected to deliver food aid to 142,000 Malawians in both southern and other regions.
About 90,000 people are also expected to have access to safe water.
The funds will also be channelled towards rehabilitation of broken water and sanitation facilities in healthcare service facilities and schools.
“Unicef will also help learners return safely to school by providing soap, clean water and wash buckets; conducting water quality monitoring and treatment; and promoting hygiene in schools and in surrounding communities,” Young said.
The new grants have come in response to President Lazarus Chakwera’s declaration of disaster and the United Nations’ flash appeal for funding for assistance to Malawians affected by flooding and cholera.
