FOM Asks for Quick Post Cyclone Recovery

Members of Friends of Machinga Trust hands over part of the donations to cyclone Freddy survivors in Machinga Members of Friends of Machinga Trust hands over part of the donations to cyclone Freddy survivors in Machinga - pic by Eamon Piringu

Friends of Machinga (FOM) Trust has asked government to come up with a speedy recovery initiative for people affected by Cyclone Freddy to build resilient structures when returning to their villages.

Chairperson for the trust, Dr. Sinoya Winesi says provision of food relief alone to the survivors has proven ineffective in hard to reach areas; hence, the need for a Cyclone Freddy social cash transfer programme that will increase their capacity to rebuild their houses and be self-reliant.

Dr. Winesi, was speaking today after donating relief items which they have been mobilizing, to each of over 150 survivors at Likhonyowa, Ng'andu and Shire camps in Machinga, where he accused authorities for not prioritising the district in response.

"It's unfortunate that the district is not receiving a lot of support because it is not being treated as a priority by authorities. We want government to start providing social cash transfers to all flood survivors which will cushion them and be self reliant," said Winesi.

Senior group village Headman, Likhonyowa says there is a likelihood of extreme hunger and poverty as all rice fields in the area were washed away.

"We are afraid of what my people are going to be surviving on this year. All farms are gone with the floods. We have lost people and livestock too," lamented GVH Likhonyowa.

About 50 000 people in Machinga where displaced from their homes due to cyclone Freddy.

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