The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) on Monday launched the Lean Season Response Programme in Mangochi, where 75 000 people in the district are expected to benefit from the programme with cash and food.
Speaking at the launch of the exercise, Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs, Charles Kalemba said the programme which is targeting the vulnerable Malawians has started earlier in Mangochi to assist people who are food insecure due to the effects of Tropical Cyclone Freddy.
He added that through the intervention, some beneficiaries will be receiving money, while others will receive food items in form of maize for a period of six months till March 2024.
‘‘The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee report show that we have around 4.4 million Malawians who are food insecure, and as DODMA we have come up with a lean season food insecurity response in order to bail out these people.’’
‘‘President Lazarus Chakwera, who is minister responsible for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs directed us to start the programme earlier in October and because of the vulnerability, most of the southern region districts, including Nkhotakota and Ntcheu in the central region will benefit for a period of six months, while for the other districts, the programme will be implemented for five months and others four months,’’ said Kalemba.
He therefore asked authorities, especially the traditional leaders and councilors to avoid abusing the relief items, saying that the commission will not shield anyone who will be found on the wrong side of the law.
‘‘Let me warn authorities that we will not tolerate corruption, theft as well as fraud. Just like we did last year, we are going to arrest anyone who would want to abuse the assistance which is going to the vulnerable people,’’ said Kalemba
In her remarks, one of the beneficiaries from Ntangaluku Village, Beatrice Amin commended government for the assistance, saying that the assistance has come at right time when most households have no food.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Mangochi Municipal Council, Ernest Kadzokoya said beneficiaries of Climate Smart Public Works Programme and Social Cash Transfer Programme will also benefit from DODMA’s Lean Season Response Programme.
‘Out of the 75,000 beneficiaries, we will have 18,000 people on Social Cash Transfer Programme and 20,123 on Climate Smart Public works Programme as well as over 35,000 additional vulnerable people in Mangochi.’’
‘‘However, looking at the number of people on the ground, we still feel that the number is small. We are therefore requesting for additional assistance,’’ Kadzokoya said
Reported By Bishop Witmos
