Tag Archives: Department of Disaster management Affairs

Malawi

DoDMA accused of ‘starving’ Cyclone Freddy survivors

Maravi Post Author

By Isaac Salima

Some of the people who are seeking shelter in Tropical Cyclone Freddy camps have bemoaned bureaucracy when releasing food items to survivors, saying procedure-induced delays are creating artificial food shortages in camps.

The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) has been receiving support from well-wishers and other stakeholders and coordinates with district councils to ensure that items get to those that need them.

We visited some camps in Blantyre, where people claimed that they have gone for days without receiving any support from councils.

“We last received assistance a week ago,” Matias Wasere, who is chairperson at Matope Primary School in Ndirande, said.

“Food is our biggest challenge here. We ask authorities to ensure that these people get necessary support while here. Our warehouse is empty now and people have not eaten anything,” Wasere said.

The camp is home to almost 90 families.

“I lost my husband and daughter and do not have anything left for me. My hope is here at the camp but the erratic supply of food is a big problem to people like me,” Kelita Zimizu, one of the people at the camp, said.

The sentiments were echoed at Malabada camp in the populous township, where people complained of food challenges.

For example, Martin Chiwowa said people should consider giving them food items.

“We thank people who have been coming up with support.

“However, we have received blankets, basins and other non-food items. But we need more food items,” Chiwowa said.

Vice President of St John Ambulance Margaret Ali urged responsible officials to fast-track the process of ensuring that food is available to the people.

“There are what we call ‘red tapes’ in government agencies, where it takes a long time for donations to reach beneficiaries. People are struggling for food in camps; so, I would ask those responsible not to hold on to the items.” Ali said.

Dodma Deputy Director for Resilience Hastings Mwanjoka said they are working hard to ensure that items are distributed to those that need them in camps.

“We are only there to coordinate [activities] with district councils. When we receive the items, it is the councils that decide where to take them. And when those who have donated through us have a particular area where they want their items to be distributed, we take them there,” Mwanjoka said.

Dodma announced that they will support flood survivors who are in camps for the next three months.

Source: Daily Times

Malawi, Top News

Shame! Blackout forces Malawi Parliament into early adjournment

Maravi Post Reporter
Blackout forces Parliament into early adjournment

OUT OF DARKNESS—MPs walk out of Parliament after the adjournment

Parliament Monday adjourned early after loss of power in the chamber made it difficult for members of Parliament (MPs) to continue with their deliberations.

The blackout occurred 15 minutes after tea-break and the MPs were in the dark for eight minutes before Speaker of Parliament, Richard Msowoya, announced the adjournment.

According to The Daily Times, the incident happened at a time Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Samuel Tembenu, was giving an update on the progress of the review of the Witchcraft Act.

The minister was giving the update during a debate on a statement Minister of Homeland Security, Nicholas Dausi, had delivered in the House on the state of disaster preparedness and response for the 2018/19 season.

Dausi had just told the House that, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs had just received a report of a fire accident in the area of Traditional Authority Mwansambo in Nkhotakota District that destroyed houses.

“What is disheartening about the fire accident is that the fire was started by community members on allegation that the owners of the houses were practising witchcraft. A total of 31 households had their houses and property destroyed by the fire,” Dausi said.

He said it is unfortunate that such incidents can happen when the Malawi Constitution clearly stipulates that it is criminal to call somebody a witch.

“May I request my fellow honourable members to civic-educate our constituents on the evils of taking the law into their hands,” Dausi said.

It was in the course of answering follow up questions on the issue that the blackout occurred in the chamber.

The country is facing serious power problems, with other areas experiencing up to 12 hours a day without electricity.

Top News

Chilima calls for accountability and transparency in registering affected households

Malawi News Agency (MANA)

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Vice president Dr Saulos Chilima has called for transparency and accountability in identifying and registering affected households in the Lilongwe flooding disaster.

The vice president made the call Sunday when he visited one of the affected area in Kaliyeka where 1,000 people have been displaced and 202 households have been affected and six people have been killed.

Chilima said those entrusted in registering and assessing the affected households should discharge their duties with impartiality at all cost.

“We have observed that in times of such disasters some people take advantage to abuse their positions and victimize and mistreat affected and innocent individuals for their personal gains.” the Vice president pointed out.

He warned that those people once are found they would be arrested and government would not tolerate such malpractice to be encouraged when distributing emergency relief.

Chilima said affected household need to receive what government has set to provide to them and not some take advantage to give them insufficient amounts of relief items.

“If the affected household are to receive 50 kg of maize no one should give them 30 kg and the remaining Kgs keep for themselves in order to sale it ” he noted.

The Vice President who is also responsible for Department of Disaster management Affairs, (DODMA) spelt the need to encourage residents to be sanitized on the dangers environment degradation.

He said some of the flooding which is being experienced in Lilongwe is as a result of environment degradation and encroachment of the river banks by residences.

“As you can see the water was over flooded due to heavy downpour but the river had to space to breathe as a results it finds its way through the houses which constructed were close to the river banks and there no way one could escape from such calamities,” Chilima observed.

He pointed out that issues of environmental degradation would be hinted in Nsanje on Wednesday when we would be launching 2017/18 National Disaster Respond Plan for the country.

Government has pledged to made of the provision for the six people that have being killed a result of flooding which include four males and two females and affected areas include Kawale, Mchesi, Chipasula, Kaliyeka, Areas 22 and 24.

Flooding hit the areas around 6:30 pm on Saturday and swept all the houses which were built within the river bank where lives were was lost, houses destroyed and various properties damaged in the process.

The preliminary assessment are indicating that 202 household have been affected and the assessment is still being carried out expressing fears that the number might increase.

Malawi Red Cross Society, Lilongwe City Council and DODMA officials are currently underway assessing the situation on the ground and affected households.

Temporary shelters were being erected in order to help the affected household to avert the still heavy down pour which has hit Lilongwe the past week.

Similar floods are said to have occurred in the same area in 2012 but the magnitude of the damage was minimal as compared to this time around.

Officials from various organizations such Malawi Red Cross Society, Lilongwe City Council and DODMA officials are currently assessing the situation and registering affected households.