The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) on Friday handed over 2010 packages of relief items to lower Shire Districts of Chikwawa and Nsanje with a call for displaced households to start thinking of rebuilding their lives following devastating effects of Tropical Storm ANA and Cyclone Gombe.
The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) made the donation following President Dr Lazarus Chakwera's declaration of state of disaster and appeal for assistance in the wake of Tropical Storm ANA.
Speaking at Chikwawa District Council during the handover ceremony, Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs, Charles Kalemba said the donation has been earmarked for a take home package as the department is currently in the phase where it is demobilizing the camps.
Kalemba said the assessments done by the affected councils has shown that people can go back to their homes hence the need to give them starter packs while waiting for other sustainable means to economically empower the affected people.
“The assessments done indicated that the affected people can go back to their homes. Our department will strive to protect lives of the affected hence the need to give them take home packages.
“We expect to demobilize all camps by end of May and so this donation will go a long way in assisting us as we demobilize the camps,” said Kalemba.
He urged the two councils of Nsanje and Chikwawa to sensitize the people to make good use of the donation emphasizing that the packages are not to be sold as this may compromise the recovery process.
Addressing the affected people at Nyamula Camp in TA Tengani, Nsanje; Director of Disaster Response and Recovery Rev. Moses Chimphepo said it was high time the displaced made a move to rebuild their lives.
"There is no economic productivity at a camp. You may also wish to agree with me that camps are a breeding ground for various waterborne diseases since hygiene is compromised.
" I understand most of you rely on winter cropping to make ends meet. Let us get back to our fields and continue with our farming activities,” said Chimphepo.
The packages comprise 1kg salt, 2kg sugar, 900g milk powder, 1kg chick peas, 2kg red lentils and10kg rice; among others.
In his remarks, Chikwawa District Council Chair, Aubrey Masanza appreciated the development and asked other donors to emulate the good gesture.
Masanza said the needs of the affected people are huge and that government will need a lot of support as it undertakes the process of demobilising the camps.
“We have agreed to demobilize the camps to allow the people to go back to their normal lives. It is not an easy process considering that the affected people will need starter packs hence our plea to humanitarian partners to assist government to successfully reach out to all the affected,” he said.
Chikwawa got 1200 packages while Nsanje got 800 packages.
