Malawi Red Cross Society bail out poor households in Mangochi

About 1127 households in Mangochi are benefiting from Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) support following the outbreak of Coronavirus which has heavily affected their financial well-being.

The Society is giving money to poor families from Mangochi in Traditional Authority Jalasi according to government data to cushion them from the effects of the pandemic.

Speaking during the donation, MRCS Communications and Humanitarian Diplomacy Specialist Felix Washon said the support is targeting vulnerable households in the district who cannot support themselves.

“These people were selected by government’s unified beneficially registry which is data collected by government that describes the different categories of poverty such people are experiencing,” he explained.

According to Washon, the beneficiary households were supposed to be in government's Social cash transfer programme, but they are not on the list hence the intervention.

He expressed satisfaction over the money distribution program saying it has come at a right time when the people have almost exhausted their harvest.

“I can assure you that the program is very effective as we have received positive feedback which says the money they are receiving is being used to buy food and other needs which they could not manage without MRCS,” he said.Washon says they are impressed- photos by Mayamiko Majawa

He further assured beneficiaries that the organization will engage other stakeholders to explore ways for the continuation of the support.

Apart from the monetary support, Washon advised the people to continue following the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

One of the beneficiaries, Agness Alick commended MRCS for the timely support saying the money has really helped her to support her family.

“I am a single mother with five children. I never got help from government, but this organization just came in during my suffering now I can feed my family without any problem,” she explained.

She then asked MRCS to continue supporting them saying maize prices are going up and this would mean starvation for her children if she is not given a hand.Alick displays the money

About 3550 households in Malawi from Mangochi, Machinga, Ntcheu and Kalonga are benefiting from the support as each household is receiving K15,000 each month for three months from July.

Mangochi and Karonga are being supported by Danish Red Cross while Ntcheu and Machinga districts are supported with the funding from International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent.