By Emily Kaliwo

Chiradzulu, March 8, Mana: Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) on Thursday handed over 21 houses to some of the households that were displaced by Tropical Cyclone Freddy and relocated from Mtauchira Village in Traditional Authority Likoswe in Chiradzulu to Mussa Village in Traditional Authority Nkalo in the same district last year.

Speaking during a handover at Mikolongwe camp at Mussa Village, MRCS Vice President, Steven Naziri disclosed that apart from the 21 houses, the organization already handed over six houses while another six are under construction.

"We know that the houses are not enough for the area considering that there are 59 households that were displaced but we have managed to provide for 33. However, let me urge remaining households not to worry as we are still lobbying for other well-wishers to assist," he said and urged the beneficiaries to care for the houses for durability.

Naziri also appealed to government and other organizations to priorities Tropical Cyclone Freddy survivors when distributing relief food and nonfood items to help them get back on their feet amidst the current hunger, saying the survivors faced double trouble which made them hopeless citing the cyclone and hunger as a result of prolonged dry spell.

In his remarks, Chiradzulu District Council, Chairperson, Councilor, Charles Chigwenembe thanked MRCS for responding to the plight of the survivors, saying the council could not manage to construct such expensive houses for homeless.

He also thanked Village head Mussa for hosting the displaced people, saying this was a way to go and urged the local leader to continue with the spirit.

On his part, Village Head Mussa thanked MRCS for providing support for the houses, saying his subjects had no shelter after the displacement.

"You have been with us since the beginning and we don't take this for granted. We appeal to MRCS to continue with the humane gesture to all people that need support," he said, adding that this area has transformed from a village into a town because of the new houses.

In his remarks, one of the beneficiaries, Davious Banda, who used to operate a motorbike taxi said he was happy with the new house.

“I did not expect to own a decent house. Let me assure the MRCS that l will take care of the house,” he added and further appealed for a startup capital for a small scale business to improve house hold income to allow him pay school fees for his form 3 son who dropped out of school.

"We are grateful that MRCS has also provided us with five goats per household as a pass-on programme. We will try our level best to look after them so that they can help us to recover and support our families," Banda spoke on behalf of fellow beneficiaries.

Altogether, MRCS will construct 33 houses in Chiradzulu with support from Phillip Morris International (PMI) to the tune of K281 million.