By George Mponda

Karonga, October 7, Mana: Disaster Risk Management Officer for Karonga District Council, Humphrey Magalasi, Monday said that 13,803 households are expected to benefit from2024/25 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme.

Speaking when he briefed Karonga District Disaster Risk Management Committee on the initiative, Magalasi said each household will receive a 50-kilogram bag of maize for three months each month.

"These 13,803 households represent a population of 62,114 who have been identified from senior traditional authorities Mwakaboko, Kilupula, Wasambo, Mwinuka, Mwilang’ombe and Paramount Chief Kyungu.

They will receive relief assistance from December 2024 to February 2025," Magalasi said.

He highlighted that prioritized in the initiative are child-headed households, homes with malnourished children and people with disabilities and the elderly among others.

Group Village Head Malema under Paramount Chief Kyungu hailed government for the initiative, which he said, would go a long way in addressing food insecurity in the district.

"A lot of people were affected by floods which hit the district early this year and they lost their household properties including foodstuff, so this is a very welcome development which will ensure households are food secure for the stated three months.

As traditional leaders, we will corroborate with village civil protection committees to ensure that only deserving beneficiaries are registered to benefit from this humanitarian intervention,” said Malema.

According to the 2024 Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee Report, about 5, 700,000 people are expected to experience acute food insecurity with 553, 000 of these residing in urban areas from October 2024 to March 2025.