By Suleman Chitera
At least 10,000 hunger-affected people from Sabwera Village in Ntcheu District have received vital relief food packs from Muslim Disaster Relief Aid (MADRA), bringing renewed hope to families grappling with acute food shortages.
Speaking on Sunday during the distribution exercise, MADRA Director of Communications, Ibrahim Omar Mataya, said the intervention is part of the organisation’s response to the Presidential appeal aimed at reducing hunger across the country.
Mataya disclosed that MADRA has so far spent K500 million to support about 40,000 vulnerable people in Chikwawa, Machinga, Thyolo, Mulanje, Ntcheu and Nsanje districts. He added that the organisation is targeting to spend up to K1 billion as it scales up its humanitarian response to reach more food-insecure households.
“Our mission is to complement government efforts and ensure that vulnerable Malawians do not go to bed hungry. This is why we are expanding our reach to more districts,” Mataya said.
Member of Parliament for Ntcheu Central Constituency, Norman Chisale, commended MADRA for coming to the aid of his constituents at a critical time. He urged beneficiaries to use the assistance responsibly to cushion their families against hunger.
“I am grateful that MADRA has considered the people of Ntcheu. This support will go a long way in alleviating suffering. I urge beneficiaries to make good use of the relief food provided,” Chisale said.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Norah Jogalasi and Leston Matiki from Msiyaludzu area in Ntcheu, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the organisation, saying the assistance has come at a time when many households were facing severe food insecurity.
“We were struggling to find food for our families. This support has given us relief and hope,” they said.
Each beneficiary household received a package comprising 20 kilogrammes of maize flour, beans, soya pieces, cooking oil, salt and K5,000 cash to meet other basic needs.
MADRA is a consortium of international and local non-governmental organisations, including Limbe Muslim Jamaat, Bilaal Trust, Drop of Compassion, Al Mahmood, An Nasiha, Ashraf Aid, Blantyre Youth and Muslim Youth United, working together to provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities across Malawi.
