Red Cross touts 2019 flood recovery project

Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) livelihoods and disaster risk reduction coordinator Thomas Magaisa says they have helped 2 000 households to recover from effects of the 2019 floods in four Southern Region districts.

The organisation implemented a number of interventions under its recovery project for people displaced by floods in  Phalombe, Mulanje, Chikwawa and Nsanje districts.

In an interview on Thursday during a media tour in Phalombe and Mulanje, Magaisa said they provided communities with alternatives that save lives and property to sustainably start a new lease of life.

He said: “We constructed 30 houses in Phalombe, 35 in Nsanje and 35 in Chikwawa. Those in transitional shelters will receive funds to upgrade the shelters into permanent ones.

“We distributed cash to the 2 000 households for three months from October to December 2019 across the four districts, with each beneficiary receiving K35 000 per month.”

Magaisa said they also  supported the victims with farm inputs to ensure food security.

One of the beneficiaries, Wezzie Mathuli of Sambani Village, Traditional Authority Nkanda in Mulanje, commended MRCS for the cash transfer initiative that has enabled them to acquire basic household needs.

MRCS supported the flood victims with K313 million, which came from sister red cross organisations and other well-wishers.