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More than 3000 families in 3 communities in Mwanza in Southern Region, Malawi, have been supported with small cash grants, thanks to funding (£250,000) from the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund.
The region is currently experiencing a food crisis, due to a prolonged period without rain, with January and February thought to have broken records for being the driest in four decades. The dry conditions are expected to continue until June, according to latest UN reports.
Working with our local partner Churches Action in Relief Development (CARD) the cash payments have been distributed to those identified as being most vulnerable, for them to spend on food and essentials.
Christian Aid’s Programme Funding and Development Manager Chipo Kachiwala said the money came at just the right time, as food insecurity is a huge challenge in this area of Malawi:
Households have been really struggling and can often only manage one meal a day. The cash grants have allowed people the freedom to buy food, with some people wisely using some of the money for sweet potato vines and seeds, so they can grow vegetables. This strategic investment enables them to cultivate nutritious produce, which they can either consume or sell to address immediate needs, particularly as hunger looms over the district in the coming months.
Though there haven’t been any severe storms yet this year, climate change and El Nino, continue to create very challenging weather conditions. This is turn means difficult growing conditions for the millions of people who rely on rainfed agriculture.
People like Laston Mgwilamchila, a farmer in Mwanza who has six children to feed. He said recent months have been very challenging but he’s grateful to have received the cash grant:
There is nothing left in my maize field, it was completely destroyed by the heat and army worms, they are frequent here as they thrive in drought areas, so the cash aid came in very timely. I was able to buy a bag and a half of maize, I also bought some plates as the ones we had were completely worn out, in addition some clothes for my children and their school needs.
On the 24 April 2024 Christian Aid and our partner CARD will be taking part in a Zoom webinar organised by the Scotland Malawi Partnership. If you would like to find out more about this event, please email: Edinburgh@christian-aid.org.
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Scottish Government Humanitarian Emergency Fund
Our work in Malawi is supported by the Scottish Government Humanitarian Emergency Fund.
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