Christian Aid and Circle for Integrated Community Development (CICOD) on Friday, donated Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) items to people affected by Cyclone Freddy at Ngabu Sports Club Camp and Pakamwa Camp in the areas of Traditional Authorities Ngabu and Makhuwira.
In an interview after the donation, Christian Aid Climate Justice Coordinator, Lee Ngirazi said Christian Aid and CICOD have secured funding from Start Fund worth £150, 000 to respond to post-Cyclone Freddy effects in Chikwawa, Phalombe and Mulanje.
“Today we have started distributing WASH items in Chikwawa and the package includes buckets, laundry soap, bathing soap and chlorine,” he said.
Ngirazi added that next week they are going to provide cash and items needed in health sector, nutrition sector and psycho social services via counselling and Gender Based Violence Screening.
“For WASH we are reaching out to 750 households to access water and hygiene, water facilities, construction of mobile toilets, temporary bathrooms and provision of water purification materials which is going to prevent the spread of Cholera in camps.
He added that in nutrition sector 690 households which include pregnant women and new mothers, children and elderly will be provided with special nutritious food called corn soya blend.
“In terms of health, 240 households will receive mosquito nets and 60 households will be provided with pregnant kits.
In his words, one of the beneficiaries from Pakamwa camp, Patrick Pamkhamba commended Christian Aid and CICOD for the donation.
Pakamwa made a special plea to partners to also consider providing additional assistance to those on ARV treatment, lactating women and elderly people with contributions that will supplement efforts government is doing in alleviating challenges encountered by survivors.
He further reiterated President Lazarus Chakwera’s call to join hands in finding lasting solutions to floods.
“We are ready to move and build at safer places if government provides the land, we will then use our initial land for farming since it is fertile,” he said.
Currently Ngabu sports club camp has 563 households and a total population of 2588 while Pakamwa camp from T/A Makhuwira has 483 households and a total of 2518 people.
