By Steve Lingamawa

Balaka, May 24, Mana: Balaka District Council hailed Church Action in Relief and Development (CARD) for rescuing about 1,700 households from hunger in Balaka as the church relief organization responded to effects of El Nino in the 2024/2025 lean season through El Nino Emergency Response Project.

Balaka District Disaster Risk Management Officer (DDRMO), Allick Milanzi, expressed gratitude on Thursday when CARD presented El Nino Emergency Response Project exit report to Balaka District Council.

Milanzi said the district had 51, 802 households that were affected by hunger due to El Nino induced dry spells in the 2024/2025 season.

“Allow me to appreciate various stakeholders that participated in this initiative such as CARD, Council officers, the police and community members among others. Balaka District is prone to climatic shocks such as dry spells but your effort is always available as shown during this project,” DDRMO added.

He further explained that CARD, through El Nino Emergency Response Project disbursed K90,000 to every households to purchase food despite several challenges encountered during the project implementation, citing community leaders’ corrupt practices in identifying the beneficiaries.

CARD Project Coordinator, Harliex Chimutu, said the organization is among primary disaster respondent actors in Malawi.

He therefore commended stakeholders’ collaboration that helped to bail out households that were affected by hunger in Balaka District, saying; "The Project was given seven months to operate in Balaka from November 2024 to May 2025 particularly in areas of Phimbi, Nkaya, Makuluka and Zalimu with each household getting K90,000 for the first five months to purchase food items."

CARD received a 273,000 Canadian Dollars from the Presbyterian World Service and Development and Canadian Food Grains Bank to support households that were affected by the El Nino dry spell in Balaka.