Flood survivors in Machinga District, Malawi, have expressed gratitude to the Malawi Red Cross Society for providing cash assistance that enabled them to rebuild their homes destroyed by heavy rains and floods in March. The assistance allowed them to move from temporary shelters and begin restoring their lives after the disaster. The beneficiaries received K90,000 for three months, which helped them recover from the devastating effects of the floods.
Linly Harela, a 48-year-old woman from Traditional Authority (T/A) Mizinga, is one of the beneficiaries who received the cash assistance. Her house collapsed during the disaster, leaving her and her seven children homeless. They were forced to move to Nkotamo Primary School, where they lived with other families whose houses were also destroyed. Harela described life at the camp as hard, with no dignity for women and children.
Another beneficiary, Maina John of Mlomba Village in T/A Mlomba, also benefited from the cash assistance. The floods destroyed part of her house, injured her 13-year-old child, and forced her to abandon her mandasi (fritters) business. She used the money to cover medical treatment for her child, who was treated as an in-patient at Machinga District Hospital for two weeks. Her remaining six children moved to the school where they were camping.
According to the Machinga District Disaster Risk Management Office, 7,499 households were affected by the floods across the district, with two camps established for people whose homes were destroyed or rendered unsafe. The office reported that the floods had a significant impact on the lives of the affected families, leaving them without homes or livelihoods.
The Machinga District Disaster Risk Management officer, Lucy Beyadi, said the cash intervention helped affected families to move beyond emergency relief and begin rebuilding their lives. A total of 1,425 households in five T/As were selected for the cash component, with each household receiving K90,000 for three months to support recovery, particularly reconstruction of homes.
The cash assistance enabled the beneficiaries to mould bricks, buy building materials, and construct permanent houses. Group village head Kalidoso from T/A Mizinga said the support brought visible changes among families affected by the floods. The assistance helped to restore dignity and hope among the affected families, who were able to rebuild their lives.
The beneficiaries, including Harela, are now living in their new homes, which were made possible by the cash assistance from the Malawi Red Cross Society. The support has had a positive impact on the lives of the affected families, who are now able to live with dignity and hope for a better future.
Key points
- Malawi Red Cross Society provides cash assistance to 1,425 households in Machinga District
- Floods affect 7,499 households in Machinga District, leaving them without homes or livelihoods
- Cash assistance enables beneficiaries to rebuild their homes and restore their lives
