Churches Action in Relief and Development (Card) has disbursed money to 500 households affected by Cyclone Freddy in traditional authorities (T/As) Nkhulambe and Phweremwe in Phalombe District.

In an interview on Saturday during the cash transfer presentation in T/A Nkhulambe, the organisation’s project officer Charles Msowoya said they gave each household K80 000 for food.

“These people lost their crops to the disaster. The money we have given them is for food and the amount has been calculated based on current prices of maize, beans and cooking oil,” he said.

Phalombe district director of planning and development Kelvin Harawa commended Card for the support, but said many people in the district do not have enough food because of the disaster.

A beneficiary gets her thumb printed to receive money

“There is indeed hunger in the district because the cyclone washed away crop fields. With help from different organisations and government, we are making sure that we assist the survivors.” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Annie Misomali, said her family had nothing to eat.

“I will buy food which will help my family to survive. I appeal to other well-wishers to emulate the example set by Card,” she said.

Senior Chief Nkhulambe asked the beneficiaries not to misuse the money, but use it to buy food as advised.

“However, we need more support because the damage by the cyclone was extensive in my area,” she said.

The 2023 Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee report projects that 4.4 million people in the country will be food-insecure during the lean season.

With funding from The Ford Foundation from United States of America, Card is implementing a Post Cyclone Freddy Response in the two T/As.

The organisation also donated potato vines to the survivors to plant in dambos.

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