Mutharika meets donors over Malawi hunger response
President Peter Mutharika on Thursday hosted a high-level meeting with Malawi’s donors where they discussed ways how they should implement the country’s food insecurity response plan.
The meeting which was held at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe followed a request by the development partners for the two sides to create a unified working relationship for the response plan.
According to the Malawi leader, the meeting was necessary as it paves the way for a well-coordinated implementation plan for the various efforts aimed at assisting people affected by hunger in the country.
The developments partners who attended the meeting comprised of Laura Kullenberg, World Bank Resident Representative, Aine Hearns, Irish Ambassador to Malawi, Kikkan Haugen, Ambassador of Norway, Michael Nevin, British High Commissioner, Marchel Germann, EU Ambassador, Virginia Palmer, US Ambassador and Andrew Mwaba, resident representative of the African Development Banka, among others.
The Malawi delegation was led by President Mutharika, Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima, Ministers of Finance Goodall Gondwe, Foreign Affairs Francis Kasaila, Trade and Industry Joseph Mwanamveka, Agriculture and Food Security George Chaponda and Chief Executive Officers of Admarc and the National Food Reserve Agency-NFRA.
“I decided to bring every Ministry, Department and Agency that plays key role in our response to the hunger crisis,” said the President.
“The citizens and the world out there have entrusted us to provide solutions to their food and development challenges,” he added.
At the end of the meeting, the two sides agreed to open up their communication channels and always share information on the quantities of food aid to be brought into the country.
They also agreed to share information on the logistical arrangements involved in bringing and distributing food assistance to people affected by hunger across the country.
They also agreed on the long-term strategies of how to end hunger in the country.
Up to 8 million Malawians are facing hunger due to drought and floods which hit the country during the last growing season.
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