As one way of recovery intervention, Malawi Red Cross Society on Monday distributed maize seeds to 200 households in Phalombe district. The maize seed which is locally known as Kanyani from seedco will help the beneficiaries to be food secure as it is early maturing considering that the targeted districts have a short period of rainfall. These beneficiaries are the victims of floods which occurred in March this year.

The seed distribution program is taking place under 2019 flood recovery project supported by Danish Red Cross, American Red Cross, Icelandic Red Cross, British Red Cross, Swiss Red Cross, Netherlands Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies with funding amounting to One hundred and three Million One hundred and Thirty five thousand Malawi Kwacha. The program is targeting 2000 households from four districts namely; Phlombe, Chikwawa, Nsanje and Mulanje and 500 households from Phalombe are expected to benefit from the program.

‘These beneficiaries are the survivors of floods and most of  their crops were washed away by the floods and we want to help them to rebuild their households by giving them early maturing seeds’, said MRCS Flood recovery operations manager, Fedson Chikuse.

One of the beneficiaries, James Malichi from Phaleya village, senior chief Kuduya said, his family was heavily affected by the floods and his house collapsed due to the heavy rains. ‘Malawi Red Cross Society has really helped us as we are going to be able to plant our maize with the first rains and harvest early as the maize seed is fast in maturity’, he added. The support of seed will include the distribution of sorghum, millet, rice, pigeon peas, sweet potato vines and vegetables.

The 2019 flood recovery project has three other components which include shelter, WASH and health. Under shelter component, 100 houses are under construction in Chikwawa, Nsanje and Phalombe. 30 resilient houses are being constructed in Phalombe with funding from UNDP while the rest are being constructed in Chikwawa and Nsanje with in partnership with the Swiss Red Cross. The construction of the resilient houses is expected to be finalized by end of December 2019. Commenting on the development, Group village headman Mwenyewe of Phalombe has thanked the Malawi Red Cross Society for the support and he has further said that the lives of vulnerable people are changing for the better.

Malawi Red Cross Society provides timely response in times of disasters countrywide for immediate relief and long term recovery.