JICA donates K200m worth of relief items to DoDMA

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Saturday handed over assorted relief items to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA).

The donated materials were valued at K200 million and will greatly enhance DoDMA response in addressing the needs of the affected people in particular and the disaster response operations in general.

Kalemba (3rd from left) poses for a photo with Japanese envoy Satoshi Iwakiri and JICA Chief Representative Kazuhiro Tambara after receiving the donation–Photo by Watipaso Mzungu, Nyasa Times

Speaking on Saturday when he received K200 million worth of relief items from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs, Charles Kalemba, said the Malawi Government is working hard to meet basic food and survival needs of the affected population, decongestion of the camps as well as restoration of basic services in the affected areas.

Kalemba said a total of 221, 127 households (translating into 993,149 people) have been affected out of which 33, 064 households (translating into 191, 009 people) have been displaced with some seeking refuge in over 178 camps.

“Out of this, 46 people have been killed, 18 are still missing while 206 injuries were recoded. The donation from JICA will therefore go a long way in addressing the needs of the affected people in particular and the disaster response operations in general, as the country is working hard to meet basic food and survival needs of the affected population, decongestion of the camps as well as restoration of basic services in the affected areas.

Kalemba shakes Iwakiri (left) and Tambara after receiving the donation at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe–Photo by Watipaso Mzungu, Nyasa Times

I, therefore, commend the people and Government of Japan for responding positively to the declaration of ‘state of disaster’ and appeal for assistance by His Excellency the State President, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera through this timely donation,” he said.

Kalemba said JICA and the Government of Japan have been Malawi’s long-time partner in the humanitarian assistance and the national development initiatives, citing March 2019 when Japan provided humanitarian assistance in form of various shelter and non-food material for people affected by the Cyclone Idai-induced floods that left over 87, 000 people displaced.

Japan has also assisted and continues to support Malawi in areas of disaster risk reduction through various community-based disaster risk management interventions.

“Through the Technical Cooperation through JICA, Japan has been supporting technical capacity building of officers in the department and DRM stakeholders through short-term and long-term training programmes in Japan. These are just but a few examples of the support by the Government of Japan,” said Kalemba.

JICA Chief Representative Kazuhiro Tambara emphasized the need for Malawi to strengthen disaster risk reduction.

Tambara said this is why his agency has been offering various short and long-term training in Japan in disaster risk reduction, forestry management and adaptation to climate change.

“Currently, Mitigation Officer from DoDMA is in Japan, participating in flood disaster risk reduction training. It is through these trainings that we sincerely hope that our cooperation with the Government of Malawi will contribute to realization of Malawi 2063 development agenda,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Japanese Ambassador to Malawi, Satoshi Iwakiri, has urged DoDMA to direct the donated materials on the intended beneficiaries.

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