Luwani Refugee Camp gets K17.8m US grant
United States (US) Ambassador Virginia Palmer, on Friday, signed a $25 000 (about K17.8 million) grant to the Participatory Rural Development Organisations (PRDO) to help over 13 000 refugees at Luwani Camp in Neno.
According to information from the US Embassy in Lilongwe, the funds will improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene (Wash) practices that will reduce the risk of disease outbreak among the refugees.
The embassy information quotes Palmer as having said she believes implementation of the project will lead to improved availability of the much-needed Wash that meet the immediate health needs of the ever increasing numbers of refugees at Luwani.
“PRDO will construct water and sanitation facilities such as boreholes and water kiosks, toilets, washing points, drainage around shelters, refuse disposal pits, as well as promote good sanitation and hygiene practices in the camp for over 13 000 people at Luwani Refugee Camp,” reads part of the information.
For the past three years, the US State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) has supported Malawi with $75 000 (about K53.6 million) for implementing programmes aimed at uplifting education standards, ending gender-based violence (GBV), and increasing refugees capacity to generate income at Dzaleka Refugee Camp, located some 35kms from Lilongwe.
This is the first time the grant facility will support activities at the newly re-opened Luwani Camp.
