First Discount House (FDH) Financial Holdings Limited has donated a relief package of MK27.5 million to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) extending a heartfelt helping hand to areas that have been affected by Moderate Tropical Storm ANA.
Handing over the cheque to DoDMA, FDH Managing Director, Mike Chiwalo said FDH Financial Holdings mobilized itself and pooled some funds to go towards purchase of food and non-food items including maize flour, cooking oil, beans, soya pieces, kapenta, buckets, blankets; just to mention a few.
Chiwalo said FDH, as a responsible citizen, do not only care about the people of Malawi when there is good business only, they care about their welfare in all times because FDH resonates with the needs of Malawians.
“ANA badly affected the nation at large and it left many families destitute as they were stripped of their livelihoods and now lack the basic necessities to survive.
“Even though these donations cannot reverse the tragedy of the floods, it is a first step towards assisting these families to get back on their feet. We wish to extend our deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones in these terrible floods and hence rendering the support,” said Chiwalo.
Out of the MK27.5 million, FDH Bank Plc has contributed MK15 million, FDH Limited contributed K7.5 million while FDH Money Bureau contributed MK5 million.
“We would like to take this opportunity to commend DoDMA under the Malawi Government for their efforts in managing the impact of the floods,” said Chiwalo.
Receiving the donation, Director of Response and Recovery, Moses Chimphepo said the department was grateful for the support rendered and assured the bank that the donation will go towards its intended purpose.
Chimphepo said any donations towards Tropical Storm ANA response operations will be accounted for and will be handled in a transparent manner.
“This is a very good gesture as the bank has responded to the call made by the President when he declared a State of Disaster on 26th January, following the devastating effects of ANA. These funds and relief items will go towards the intended purpose,” said Chimphepo.
So far, UNICEF Malawi, Concern Worldwide, Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS), Partners in Health, Gift of the Givers, Save the Children, the World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organisation (WHO) have also provided relief assistance in affected districts.
DoDMA continue to receive relief assistance from organisations, companies and individuals of goodwill amidst widespread disinformation aimed at frustrating response operations towards ANA. The department will be updating the general public on any donation it receives on behalf of the affected people.
