Red Cross head in to assess hunger situation
International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) secretary general Elhadj As Sy is in the country to appreciate the food insecurity situation with the aim of launching a food security emergency appeal.
Geneva-based Sy, who arrived yesterday afternoon through Chileka Airport in Blantyre, will today take a field visit to Mwanza District to have a feel of the situation on the ground.
He is also expected to meet Vice-President Saulos Chilima in his capacity as Minister responsible for Disaster Management Affairs.
Thereafter, Sy will meet officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development as well as from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) on the same mission.
“Lastly, he will meet the United Nations [UN] resident coordinator Mia Seppo who will be in the company of Food and Agriculture Organisation [FAO] country director Florence Rolle, World Food Programme [WFP] country representative Coco Ushiyama and United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund [Unicef] country representative in Malawi Mahimbo Mdoe,” said Malawi Red Cross Society communications manager Felix Washoni.
According to Washoni, Sy leaves the country on Saturday morning for Zimbabwe on a similar mission.
Malawi is experiencing hunger following prolonged dry spells during the 2015/2016 growing season. Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development announced last week that government needs at least K258 billion to implement short and medium-term strategies to address hunger and food insecurity which will affect millions of Malawians this year.
So far, the government of the United States of America has provided Malawi Government with $55 million (about K38.5 billion).
