Red Cross donates relief items to 277 households

Malawi Red Cross Society has donated relief items to 277 households affected by strong winds and floods last month in Karonga.

The items included buckets, blankets, soap, tents and sanitary pads.

Speaking on Monday during the handover in Traditional Authority Wasambo in the district, Malawi Red Cross Society Karonga District project coordinator Reuben Malema said they wanted to lessen people’s suffering.

“We got a report that some households were affected by floods in the district. We did our assessment and found that 277 households were in dire need of humanitarian support,” he said.

Malema also asked the people living in disaster-prone areas to build resilient houses.

One of the beneficiaries, Gladys Kondowe, whose house was destroyed by the floods, said she relocated to her neighbour’s house.

“I cannot afford materials to construct another house, so I ask other well-wishers to help,” she said.

Kondowepledged to use the items for the intended purpose.

According to a Department of Disaster and Management Affairs, report about 2 639 households have been affected by strong winds and flash floods this year in the district.

The report also shows that lightning killed five people and injured 12 in group village head Mwenechilanga in the district.

Karonga is one of the disaster-prone districts in the country.

Malawi Red Cross Society made the donation with financial support from Unicef.

This year, strong winds and floods also affected people in Mchinji, Nkhata Bay, Ntcheu, Balaka and Mulanje districts.