As various individuals and stakeholders continue providing support to survivors of Cyclone Freddy, the Association of Malawians in Ireland (AMAI) on Saturday donated assorted items to Cyclone Freddy survivors in Malawi’s southern region.
The donation targeted camps in Chiradzulu district and one camp in Bangwe, Blantyre.
The items which include wrappers (Zitenje), basins, pails, clothes and chlorine reached 305 households living in the camps.
Speaking in a separate interview, AMAI President, Henry Mkumbira Phiri, said the donation follows reports of challenges that various survivors are facing in camps.
“Upon receiving reports that survivors are facing a lot of challenges in camps, we decided to raise some funds so as to bail them out of these challenges,” said Mkumbira.
He said they raised the funds using two channels, the association’s main bank account and Gofund.
Mkumbira said through this, a total of K7.6 million was raised.
He said the association is still mobilizing funds so as to reach out to many camps.
“We are still mobilizing funds and we hope we will reach many camps as it is not in Chiradzulu and Bangwe where survivors are facing challenges,” he said.
On his part, the association’s representative in Malawi Father Mathews Semba of Chikwawa Diocese hailed the grouping for raising the funds meant for charity.
“Let me thank the association for the recommendable job.
“To say the truth, we are greatly concerned with the devastation that Cyclone Freddy has brought to our friends in the Southern Region and we hope this will help a lot,” said Semba.
Semba was also quick to acknowledge Archbishop Thomas Msusa of Blantyre Diocese for allowing his charges under Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) to take part in the donation championed by Mandinda Zungu.
Ganizani James, a beneficiary and survivors chairperson also hailed the association for the donation saying it is a short in the arm as it will go a long way in alleviating their suffering.
