12,000 households to receive food aid from Presidential Initiative

For Immediate Release

The Presidential Initiative Fundraising Committee has  (by November 24, 2012) so far distributed 3,000 of the 12,000 bags of maize it raised recently scheduled to be distributed to hunger affected households across the country.

The maize has already been distributed to affected areas in Golomoti, TA Kaphuka, and TA Kachindamoto’s area; Benga in Nkhotakota, and in TA Mwansambo; in Balaka, TA Sawali, STA Kachenga and TA Msamala.

Next week distribution will be done in Kasungu, Mangochi (TA Kalembo and Nankumba); Machinga (TA Chikwewu); Zomba (Chingale and Chisi,) Thyolo (TA Changata, Sandama and Madziabango); Phalombe; and Blantyre (TA Kunthembwe) and Chiradzulu (Namitambo).

The relief assistance is targeting affected households that do not appear on the government list for distribution but do not have food.

Commenting on the Committee’s maize distribution programme, Presidential Press Secretary Steven Nhlane said:

“The Committee is touched with the number of households who have no food and no money and yet are not on the official lists for food distribution by the Department of Disaster Management Affairs. The Committee is thus grateful to all those who donated maize for this noble cause.”

Mrs. Flora Kaluwile, National Coordinator for the Presidential Initiative for Poverty and Hunger Reduction said:

“There is very good collaboration with our colleagues [Department of Disaster Management Affairs] as they provide the technical backstopping during the food distribution exercise. We plan together and move together.”

Fast Points

• The areas affected are identified by Department of Disaster Management Affairs who work through District Commissioners and Disaster Management Committees at Village level.

• Names are provided by Village Headmen; but vulnerability assessment is done by the Disaster Management Committee.

• There are 2 million food insecure households across the country, up from 1.6 million people who were originally thought to need food aid.

• Government through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs is distributing food to 1.6 million people.