Nkhoma (R) helps a woman carry her relief items

World Relief Malawi has urged government and various stakeholders to come up with interventions to protect girls in evacuation camps from sexual abuse.

The request followed reports that some girls affected by Tropical Cyclone Freddy in Traditional Authority Kawinga in Machinga District were asked for sexual favours to be listed among beneficiaries for humanitarian aid.

Speaking on Wednesday when distributing relief items worth K21 million to 245 households seeking shelter at Naming’azi Primary School, World Relief Malawi disaster response coordinator Francis Nkhoma said the claims amounted to abuse of human rights.

“There is need to take action whenever such reports have reached the government. If no action is taken, the victims will continue to face the abuse,” he said.

Nkhoma also asked the victims to report the abuses to relevant authorities.

Machinga district relief and rehabilitation officer David Kamwendo thanked the organisation for expressing its concerns on the alleged abuse of girls in the camps.

He also commended the organisation for the donation, saying government alone cannot help the survivors with relief items.

“We rely on partners and well-wishers to help us during these times. I advise beneficiaries not to sell the items, but use them for their intended purpose,” said Kamwendo.

Group village head Mnyumwa urged government to relocate the survivors from schools to allow children to use the classes.

One of the beneficiaries, Esthele Dailesi, asked government and well-wishers to include seeds in relief packages for winter cropping.

The donated items included maize flour, Likuni Phala, cooking oil, salt, sugar and soya pieces

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