Government of the United Arab Emirates through the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation has donated 13 500 metric tonnes of maize that will benefit about 7 500 hunger stricken families.
The donation follows a visit by President Joyce Banda in October last year.
Speaking at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, President Banda said she was indebted by the rapid response by the government of the United Arab Emirates few months after an appeal for food relief.
Banda said when she visited the Arab country last year, she made it clear that some families in Malawi would be faced with hunger and as such there will be a need to help them with food aid.
“I am very glad to see that the mutual relationship between the two countries is bearing fruits, when I visited the United Arab Emirates, I asked for food relief knowing that my people would be faced with hunger,” explained Banda.
The President therefore described the donation by the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, a presidential foundation in the Arab country as timely as it will save the life of 6 084 families.
“I have directed that the Mudzi Transformation Trust (MTT) should carry the duty of identifying vulnerable families and distribute the maize directly to them,” Banda said appealing to members of the MTT to ensure that every Malawian regardless of region, race and political affiliation benefits from the donation.
Abdulrahim Jani, who made the donation on behalf of the United Arab Emirates government disclosed that after an appeal by President Banda, his government through the foundation thought it wise to come in and help with food aid.
“The mission of our foundation is to support the needy and when President Banda made an appeal we decided to come and help the needy Malawians,” he said.
Banda donated a part of the maize to a group of people with disabilities.
