Malawi Veep visits Nkhata Bay flood victims
Vice President Khumbo Kachali Monday visited families whose houses were over the weekend destroyed by floods following heavy downpour in Nkhata Bay.
At least 96 households were rendered homeless and at risk of hunger after the heavy rains that poured from Friday evening to Saturday evening destroyed their houses and several hectares of their crops in the areas of Traditional Authority Timbiri and Sub TA Mnyalubanga.
The edge of Limphasa Bridge on the Nkhata Bay – Mzuzu M5 Road was also swept away making the part that connects the road to the bridge inaccessible.
Kachali said government had sourced money to rehabilitate the 47-Km road, including the bridge. A contractor is already on the site maintaining the damaged part.
The Vice President has since directed the department of Disaster Management to distribute relief items to the affected households before the weekend.
“Before weekend, each affected family should have been given one bag of maize, blankets, 5 kilograms of beans, 1 kilogram of salt and other items,” he directed.
To enable families whose crops were destroyed replant Kachali said government would provide them with seed and cassava cuttings.
Kachali has also urged officers responsible for making assessment to do the work quickly so that government has correct figures before relief items are distributed.
Over 700 hectares of crops in Mpamba Extension Planning Area (EPA) have been destroyed by the floods that occurred during the weekend, according to Nkhata Bay District Commissioner, Fred Movete.
After visiting Nkhata Bay District Kachali proceeded to Karonga where one person died while hundred others rendered homeless after floods also affected the district.
