Malawi gets $15m DFID donation as food aid

Britain’s aid agency, the Department for International Development (DfID) on Friday announce a K8.75 billion (about US$15 million)  for humanitarian food assistance in Malawi responding to President’s call for food assistance.

DFID Country representative Jen Marshall made the announcement in the capital Lilongwe on behalf of British Government.

“As one of the leading humanitarian donors to Malawi, Britain is acting swiftly to response to the country’s international appeal for emergency aid by providing K8.75Billion (£10M/15$M) to support national food insecurity response plan,” said Marshall.

“The assistance will be given in form of food commodities to meet their nutritional requirements and cash to the affected population,” she said.

UK International Development Minister Grant Shapps who visited Malawi in June this year said Malawi is facing its food crisis in more than a decade.

Close to 3 million people are predicted to face hunger and acute food shortages in Malawi in the coming months, with potentially devastating effects for the country’s most vulnerable communities.

Malawi’s most severe food crisis in a decade is a result of drought, late and erratic rains during the last farming season, and the extensive floods that destroyed homes, farm land and crops in southern districts earlier this year.

Malawi’s Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima commended the DFID for the aid package.

Chilima warned all public servants to avoid ‘cashgating’ the aid.

“The law shall take its course, I know there are some people who have ill minds to steal the same money, we will not leave you like that,” warned Chilima.

The multidonor trust fund is supporting the plan to meet the urgent needs of those suffering from food insecurity.

At the same time, DFID is continuing to work with Government and other partners to ensure that Malawi move away from a year on year food security crisis.

Britain becomes the second country after United States of America (USA) to respond to President Mutharika’s SOS.

President  Peter Mutharika, last week appealed to governments, donors and non-governmental organisations to help Malawians who are currently experiencing food insecurity.

Mutharika said Malawi needs about $150 million to attend to those in need of food assistance.