By Suleman Chitera
Muslim Disaster Relief Aid (MADRA), a coalition of Muslim organisations, has brought renewed hope to communities reeling from hunger and the effects of heavy rains in the Lower Shire by distributing food and non-food relief items to more than 2,000 vulnerable families at Ngabu in Chikwawa.
The large-scale humanitarian exercise took place at Nkhwanga Primary School, where families drawn from both Chikwawa and Nsanje districts received critical assistance aimed at cushioning them from worsening food insecurity and disaster impacts.
Speaking during the distribution, MADRA representative Muhammad Choonara underscored the importance of solidarity and compassion in times of crisis. He said the organisation remains committed to standing with communities facing hardship, stressing that helping one another is a shared responsibility.
Choonara further disclosed that the Ngabu exercise is part of a wider nationwide relief programme, noting that MADRA has already carried out similar distributions in several districts across the country. He revealed that the organisation has so far achieved more than 50 percent of its K1 billion humanitarian support target, with more outreach activities planned in the coming months.
Member of Parliament for the area, Elias Karim, commended MADRA for the timely intervention, describing it as a lifeline for many families who have been severely affected by hunger and floods. He said the suffering in the area remains immense and called on other well-wishers and organisations to emulate MADRA’s gesture by extending support to distressed communities.
Each beneficiary household received a comprehensive relief package comprising maize flour, beans, soya pieces, salt, cooking oil, a roll of plastic sheeting and K5,000 in cash to help meet immediate household needs.
The intervention has been widely welcomed by the beneficiaries, who said the assistance has restored dignity and hope at a time when many households are struggling to survive. Through initiatives such as this, MADRA continues to position itself as a key humanitarian partner, delivering practical support and hope to communities in need across Malawi.
