In a heartwarming display of support, the Malawi Red Cross Society on Wednesday distributed cash assistance amounting to 90 million Kwacha to 500 households of Chimbalanga Village in the area of Senior Chief Dambe in Neno District.
The Swiss Red Cross supported cash assistance is part of the Malawi Red Cross 2026 Lean Season response program where 4 districts of Neno, Chikwawa, Nsanje and Blantyre are being support in partnership with Danish Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
The aid covering January and February is part of a three-months initiative where the society is providing K90,000 per month, supporting government which had been providing a bag of maize per household. The remaining K90,000 for March is slated for distribution at the end of April
According to MRCS’s Operations Coordinator Louis Solomon, MRCS has mobilized 2.8 billion Kwacha from IFRC, Swiss Red Cross Danish Red Cross in response to a call by government for food assistance to over 4.1 million Malawian households were found food insecure by Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee report under the 2025-2026 Lean Season.
“I appeal to community leaders to urge and encourage the beneficiaries to use funds wisely, avoiding misappropriation and focusing on food purchases. Our aim is to support families in need, not to indulge in unnecessary spending," Solomon emphasized.
Mercy Kaudzu a grateful beneficiary, praised the MRCS for the timely intervention, "This money will help me buy food and start a small business, ensuring we eat throughout these tough times,” she said, promising to use the funds wisely.
Senior Chief Chimbalanga welcomed the aid, assuring that community leaders would monitor the use of funds to ensure they benefit the community. "We will make sure the money is used for its intended purpose to put food on the table and save lives.” He spoke.
Neno District Council Disaster Risk Management Officer, Amos Chandilanga, thanked MRCS for the support saying the cash assistance has benefited those that never accessed maize from DoDMA relief maize program as the trucks of maize could not reach the area due to the bad condition of the road.