Nigeria provides disaster aid
Nigeria has donated 30 metric tonnes of medical supplies and equipment and $500 000 (about K3.6 million) to aid survivors of the recent floods.
Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama made the announcement yesterday at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe where he made a symbolic handover of the donation to Minister of Homeland Security Nicholas Dausi, who is also responsible for Department of Disaster Management Affairs.
Onyeama said the donation was delayed due to elections held in his country around the same time the disaster occurred. Nigeria held general elections on February 23 to elect the president, vice-president, house of representatives and the senate.
He said: “We are making this donation out of solidarity and brotherhood that we have with Malawi as a country, the government and its people. A disaster occurring anywhere in Africa also affects us in Nigeria. That is why our President Muhammad Buhari felt that it was our duty to support Malawi.
“We hope that this will help in some way in recovery and rehabilitation from the disaster.”
The remaining consignment, according to Onyeama, will be delivered within this week as transportation is being arranged.
President Peter Mutharika declared Malawi a State of National Disaster on March 8 following floods that affected 15 districts, mainly in the Southern Region.
On his part, Nigeria Ambassador Stanley Diriyani said they will not be involved in the distribution of the relief items, but urged government to ensure the items reach the affected people.
In his remarks, Dausi hailed the Nigerian Government for the support, saying it has come at the right time.
He said: “As you may recall, President Peter Mutharika declared some parts in the Southern and Central regions disaster areas and he made an international appeal for support.
“Today, we have seen our brothers from Nigeria donating to us medical supplies, equipment and money they have announced.
“We sincerely thank them and we want to assure them that everything that has been donated to us for our brothers and sisters that are scattered in 67 camps, we will ensure that we have helped them.”
Dausi said the donation is in line with the needs of people on the ground, especially the medical supplies as people get affected in various ways as they live in the camps.
The disaster affected 15 districts in the Southern Region and two in the Central Region. It left 60 people dead, 672 injured and 86 000 displaced.
