By Lusako Ng’ambi:
At least 22,000 Malawians who were living in South Africa have retained home following the Xenophobic attack happening in South Africa.
The Deputy Director for preparedness at the Department of Disaster management -DODMA, Nellie Kalengamaliro disclosed this on Friday at Joyce Chitsulo Stadium in Mwanza where the returnees are camping waiting to reach their respective homes.
Kalengamaliro said that they expect numbers to increase as more Malawians in south Africa are stranded to return home.
She therefore made a call to development partners and well wishers to support government in making sure that Malawians return home safely.
Responding to the call, the Secretary General for Malawi Red Cross Society, Chifundo Master Kalulu disclosed that their organization is providing first aid, shelter as well as providing restoring family links both international and local , a platform given to returnees to connect with their families for free.
In addition, Kalulu said that they are going to scale up psychosocial support to make sure that the returnees intergrate well in their societies.
“We need to think beyond the current situation. Our worry is that when they go back to their respective homes what is it that they can do? We need to give them financial support and resources that they must earn”, said Kalulu.
During the visit, the Malawi Red Cross Society also donated sorted items worthy K20 million to ease challenges that the returnees encountering at the camp.
The items include 200 blankets, 30 buckets, and 21 solar lights.
