Disaster survivors in Mzimba get relief

Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) has donated relief items to 200 households affected by floods and strong winds in Mzimba District.

The relief follows the destruction of homes and crops in Jenda, Wozi, Ekwendeni and Enukweni areas after heavy rains on January 7 this year resulted in floods.

Speaking on Saturday during the handover of the items in Senior Chief Mtwalo in the district, M’Mbelwa District Council Civil Protection Committee team leader George Gopani said they wanted to lessen the suffering of the affected people.

“We have donated blankets and mosquito nets which will help them at their temporary shelters,” he said.

Gopani also said they gave the affected people rice and other food items.

On his part, Mtwalo Area Development Committee vice-chairperson John Chiumia commended Dodma for the donation.

“The relief items will help those displaced by the floods and strong winds,” he said.

Susan Longwe, a beneficiary, said she had no food following the destruction of her house.

“I ask well-wishers to help us with roofing materials so that we return to our homes,” she said.

Longwe, whose crops were washed away by the floods, also appealed to some organisations for fertiliser to enable her grow crops again in winter. 

Meanwhile, M’Mbelwa District Council plans to plant over 8 000 trees along Kasito River banks as a solution to flooding and strong winds that occur frequently in Mzimba North.