The Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) is providing cash assistance to 1,500 food-insecure households in Mzimba district affected by the El Nino weather phenomenon.
The cash transfer initiative follows President Lazarus Chakwera’s State of Disaster declaration in 23 out of the country’s 28 districts affected by the El Nino.
The districts are Nsanje, Chikwawa, Mulanje, Phalombe, Blanytre, Chiradzulu, Thyolo, Zomba, Mangochi, Balaka, Machinga, Mwanza, Neno, Salima, Mchinji, Dowa, Dedza, Lilongwe, Ntchisi, Ntcheu, Nkhotakota, Kasungu and Karonga.
In Mzimba district, MRCS is expected to spend K396 million in three phases for three months, with the first phase distributed in April.
One of the beneficiaries, 65-year-old Maria Mkandawire said the initiative has come at the right time when those affected by El Nino are going through hard times.
“We lost everything. Our families were heavily affected. With the cash transfer initiative, we are able to buy food, pay school fees for our children among other things,” said Mkandawire who comes from Chamba Chakoma village, Traditional Authority Mwabulabo
She is married with six children.
Every household is getting K50 000 per months with 500 households getting farm inputs on top of the cash.
A total of K75 million has been distributed in the second phase of the initiative.
MRCS communications coordinator Felix Washoni said apart from cash and livelihood activities, various trainings or orientations targeting district and community structure were conducted and some activities are on going
“The goal of the project is to provide lifesaving food assistance due to hunger situation. We are working hand in hand with key government department of Agriculture, Disaster, Gender and Social welfare,” he said
MRCS is implementing the social cash transfer initiative with support from the IFRC and Saud Red Crescent.
El Nino is often associated with delayed start of rainfall, below-normal precipitation and dry spells.
Malawi’s agricultural production specifically the country’s staple crop maize, solely relies on rainfall and the sector accounts for more than one-quarter of the GDP.
