VP Chilima says no one affected by hunger will be left out in food response: Malawi grateful to China
The Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima has assured Malawians that no-one who has been affected by the hunger will be left out in the food response program.
Chilima said this on Tuesday at Chazuna Agricultural Development and Marketing Company (ADMARC) ground, Traditional Authority Kaomba in Kasungu during the launch of this year’s Food Response Program.
The response is in the wake of adverse climatic conditions that resulted in erratic rainfall which subsequently caused floods during 2014/15 farming season and dry spells during the 2015/16 season.
He said about 6.5 Malawians are in need of relief food assistance after they failed to harvest enough last farming season.
“Let me assure you that government is making every effort to ensure that all those in need of food should receive all the required amounts.
“This is a big task but we are up to the challenge. We will leave no one. Most importantly, we will ensure that the food is distributed to the food insecure population in a transparent and accountable manner,” said the vice president.
Chilima added that government will not fail and that all the 6.5 million people will be reached with food saying ADMARC and National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) all have maize.
“ADMARC has maize which will be sold at a very reasonable price while NFRA maize will be distributed for free,” he said.
One of the country’s partners to respond to the President Peter Mutharika’s call for assistance is China which has donated 6,585 metric tonnes of rice worth 7 billion Kwacha.
Some people affected by the food shortage got the rice during the Food Response Program launch in Kasungu.
Chilima thanked the Chinese government for responding to the humanitarian appeal saying Malawi government is grateful to China for assisting people who have been affected by the food shortage and that the rice will go a long way.
Chinese Ambassador to Malawi Shi Ting Wang said as a true friend, brother and partner China is highly concerned with the food situation in Malawi and it is against this background that China responded with emergency food assistance.
“Many Malawians are faced with food insecurity and according to the 2016/17 Food Insecurity Response Plan millions of Malawians are in need of humanitarian aid.
“Since the living condition of our friends in Malawi is our top concern, all the procedures of the donation were done with utmost speed.
“China is proud that it is not only one of the first to respond to the calls made by Malawi government for emergency food relief but also China is the first to deliver its promise,” said Wang.
Department of Disaster Management Affairs which is under the Vice President had initially planned to start distributing food aid in Kasungu in October but due to the situation on the ground it has decided to immediately start the distribution.
Out of 236, 690 families 13, 905 families have been affected with food shortage in the district.
The rice will also be distributed together with maize to the affected families.
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