Malawi Assoc UK organise fundraising event for floods victims: Jan 31 Nottingham

Spurred by grief and despair that is fast spreading across Malawi following fierce floods in many parts of the country which has left many people dead and tens of thousands more homeless, the Malawi Association UK (MAUK) in conjunction with the Malawi High Commission in London is appealing for donations to swiftly help southern African nation in tackling the disaster and support the victims.

In a statement signed by MAUK chairperson, Martin Guga, the UK’s Malawian umbrella body is urgently asking all Malawians in the UK to come together and support the Malawi government in responding to the humanitarian crisis.

“We appeal to all Malawians in the UK, the Aid Agencies, the faith community, Friends of Malawi, the business community and charitable organisations to move in quickly in providing financial and material support to the Malawian government so that the victims can get the help and support they desperately need in time,” reads the statement in part.

Heavy rains in Malawi have caused severe floods, affecting millions of people.

“Malawi Association UK would like to appeal for a quick response to this crisis. We are asking all Malawians in the UK to come together as one and give a helping hand to our beloved country by donating anything they think would help the victims in this crisis. We plead for everybody to respond to this appeal as quickly as possible. Our country is in despair,” further reads the statement.

‘Appeal Fund Event’

In an interview, Guga said MAUK in conjunction with the Malawi High Commission and the faith leaders are working on a fundraising event to be held in Nottingham on January 31st to raise funds and some items to support the Malawi government in helping the victims.

“We’re currently on the ground, identifying how best we can contribute effectively to the relief effort as soon as possible. We are appealing to everybody willing to help to come forward so that together we can make a difference to our country. It does not matter how little we will give in this disaster, what matters is the spirit behind the giving,” said Guga.

“We hope that Malawians and all our partners in the UK will effectively respond to our plea. We are a country in crisis and therefore we need to unite. Please, we beg our Malawian compatriots to show patriotism and come in their large numbers to support this cause. This is the biggest humanitarian crisis our country has gone through in many years,” said Guga.

Guga explained that the details for the 31st January 2015, Nottingham fundraising event will be communicated shortly once all the logistics are in place.

“Details will be communicated as soon as possible. We are currently working with our partners, Malawi chapter associations, Malawi-Scotland Partnership (MSP) the Malawian faith community leaders, Daughters of Nyasa Nottingham, Daughters of Nyasa Coventry and Malawi Development Network London (MDNL) towards the event. Let’s do this for our country. If we won’t do it, we mustn’t expect others to do it for us,” said Guga.

‘Strategic Planning’

In a related development MDNL has also issued a statement thanking Malawians in the UK for their willingness and sincere concern in extending their valuable assistance to the victims and more importantly, the various efforts already under way by groups and individuals alike.

MDNL however is also appealing to all UK based individuals, groups and organisations to unite and work together in their benevolent quest towards soliciting emergency relief funds and items for the floods victims

“You would appreciate that efforts of national propensity require careful and strategic to coordinate activities for effective and efficient execution. As such, relevant stakeholders have been at work as the scale of disaster has unfolded to the current magnitude to devise appropriate mechanisms to address the issue,” reads the MDNL statement.

It adds: “The MAUK will be liaising with all its regional associations and partners for a co ordinate approach and the MDNL will be supporting these efforts to avoid duplication of efforts.”

The outgoing Malawi High Commissioner to London, Bernard Sande says the Malawi mission is consulting Lilongwe on modalities for mobilising assistance and the specific assistance needed and emphasizes that once they receive the necessary information including the bank details which the Malawi government has opened for financial support.

Sande says the High Commission through MAUK will consult all Malawians in the UK and groups on how best to work together in mobilising the much needed relief assistance.

Meanwhile urgent financial donations may be remitted to the Mission’s account number 22720968, Sort Code 30 – 93 – 84 held at Lloyds Bank.

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