Malawi Red Cross Society has donated assorted relief items worth K50 million to 213 households affected by floods in Salima District.

Speaking on Saturday during the event at Kambwiri Primary School in the district, Red Cross acting secretary general Chifundo Kalulu said his organisation is committed to supporting households affected by floods to get back to their feet.

He said they did an independent assessment after the floods occurred to ascertain that those affected receive the needed assistance.

Kalulu, therefore, warned authorities not to take advantage of the situation to grab the items from the beneficiaries.

Kalulu (2nd L) gives a woman the items

“We urge the district council to be vigilant in protecting affected families from being taken advantage of by others. We also ask that women and children should be protected from exploitation and other gender-based violence,” he said.

Salima district director of agriculture, environment and natural resources Enford Kanyimbo commended Red Cross for the donation.

He said the district is prone to floods during rainy season, therefore, such assistance is needed.

Kanyimbo advised households living in flood-prone areas to relocate to safe places before the peak of the rainy season.

“As Salima District Council, we find it pitiful to receive reports that households have been affected by floods because we know the social economic damages that floods bring to people’s livelihoods, therefore, all preventative measures have to be followed,” he said.

One of the affected people, Elizabeth Flackson, commended the organisation, saying the donation will help her rebuild her life.

Salima District Disaster Risk Management Office records show that the floods in December 2023 affected 213 households in traditional authorities Kalonga, Kambwiri and Salima.

The items included hygiene kits, kitchen utensils and other domestic items.

The post Red Cross donates K50m relief items to flood victims appeared first on The Nation Online.