ATLANTA, Georgia, January 20 (MaraviPost): Steve Matenje Malawi’s Ambassador to the United states based in Washington DC would like to inform all Malawians resident in Canada and the United States that His Excellency Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi, has, pursuant to the Disaster Preparedness and Relief Act, Chapter 33:05 of the Laws of Malawi, declared a State of Disaster in the following fourteen districts affected by flush-floods and heavy and incessant rains that have left many people dead.
The Flooding has also displaced thousands, and caused widespread destruction of property and infrastructure in the following districts Nsanje, Chikwawa ,Blantyre, Chiradzulu, Mulanje, Phalombe, Zomba, Balaka, Machinga, Mangochi, Ntcheu, Salima, Rumphi and Karonga.
In his message the ambassador continued to say, in this regard, the Malawi Government is requesting all Malawians resident in Canada and the United States to join hands among themselves and with charitable and non-charitable organizations and other well-wishers, and assist in mobilizing relief items and supplies needed to provide for the basic needs of people affected by this unprecedented natural disaster.
He said the Embassy recognizes, appreciates and commends the patriotism of Malawians who, individually or through Malawi Associations, are already responding to the appeal from the Malawi Government by mobilizing relief supplies or have extended the appeal to well-wishers in their communities.
The Malawi Government requests that relief items and supplies be channeled through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs, Capitol Hill, Private Bag 336, Lilongwe 3, Malawi.
The Department is mandated by law to coordinate the distribution of relief items and supplies to the affected areas. The Department may be reached on telephone through its Points of Contact, Mr. Paul Chiunguzeni and Mr. James Chiusiwa, at +265-99-126-9066; +265-88-886-7015; +265-99-993-7952; +99-920-5939; +265-88-887-2314.
The Malawi Government requests further that financial contributions be deposited into the following interim bank accounts:
FDH Bank, Capital City Branch, Lilongwe, Malawi
Malawi Kwacha Account Numbers: 97 00 000 100514
US$ Foreign Currency Denominated Account 97 00 000 105252
Account Name: FDH Bank Limited
86 000 000 18078, Swift Code FDHFMWMW
Bank Name: Barclays Bank, London
Swift Code: BARCGB22
Account Number: 7723 1488.
Checks should be made payable to the “Office of the Vice-President-Disaster Management.”
Malawians are assured that the Malawi Government will acknowledge receipt of all contributions in cash or kind and ensure that they reach people affected by the disaster.
For further details or questions, please contact the Embassy of the Republic of Malawi to the United States or the Department of Disaster Management Affairs in Lilongwe directly through its Points of Contact mentioned above.
Embassy of the Republic of Malawi
2408 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
Telephone: 202-721-0270
Fax: 202-721-0288
Email: malawidc@aol.com
