By Milcah Mathias

Blantyre, March 6, Mana: Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS), with funding from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), is expected to reach out to 157 affected households with emergency recovery activities in response to the negative impacts of Tropical Cyclone Chido in Traditional Authority, Kapeni in Blantyre.

Speaking on Wednesday during dissemination of post-disaster assessment findings on the effects of Chido, the MRCS District Coordinator, Innocent Chikuni said the operation was meant to meet immediate essential needs of affected households in a safe and dignified manner, to recover from the effects, and enhance their resilience to future shocks.

“We will support them with livelihoods and basic needs, health care, rehabilitation of shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene so as to give them hope in time of their need,” said Chikuni, adding that the targeted households will each be provided with shelter, non-food items (NFIs) such as two sleeping mats, blankets, one kitchen set, and one solar lamp.

Apart from the NFI, the MRCS District Coordinator disclosed that each listed household will receive cash for rehabilitating their shelters.

“Not only that, each household will receive K100, 000 strictly for shelter rehabilitation, and they will also receive a multi-purpose cash grant of K80, 000 for livelihoods and basic needs,” added Chikuni.

Chief Planning Officer for Blantyre District Council, Pearson Mphangwe, commended MRCS for supporting the affected households with relief items and cash.

Following Tropical Cyclone Chido's impact in Malawi, a post-disaster assessment revealed that on December 16, 2024, the cyclone affected 46,017 people, causing widespread destruction of houses and other infrastructure across Malawi.

About 13 fatalities, 29 injuries, and 227 displaced individuals were registered across 23 districts of the Southern and Central Regions.