AU Donates US$100 Thousand Towards Disaster Response Programme

Symbolic cheque 

The African Union Commission (AU) has assisted Malawi government with a contribution of US$100,000 (US$100 thousand) to help alleviate the impact of the floods on the people of Malawi.

His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed Fathi Edrees, Ambassador of Egypt to the AU and Ethiopia, made the symbolic presentation of the donation through Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture Kondwani Nankhumwa on Thursday evening in the Capital, Lilongwe.

The ambassador Mohamed Fathi Edrees is leading the delegation from the AU Permanent Representative Committee (PRC) Sub-Committee on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons. The delegation composed of three persons were on a four day Humanitarian Assessment and Support Mission, following up on the consequences of the floods that occurred in January and resulted in displacement of thousands of Malawians. 

The team toured affected areas of Phalombe, Chikwawa and Nsanje districts after meetings with government officials and groups involved in humanitarian assistance to the recent floods.

“One important thing that we wanted to tell all our brothers and sisters here is that you are not alone.” Said Ambassador Mohamed Edresees while making assurance that African family will continue render support to Malawi in addressing some of the problems the floods have brought to the victims.

Ambassador Mohamed Edrees

“We also wanted not to stay at our offices and receive reports and just read and hear. Definitely seeing is not like hearing or reading. So it was important that we have this first hand encounter with the officials, peoples at the sites and different humanitarian actors and to have some sort of a more elaborate and comprehensive understanding of the situation.”

Receiving the donation, Hon Kondwani Nankhumwa said Malawi government is grateful of the kind gesture from the AU saying it will go a long way in the ongoing translocation and rehabilitation process. 

Hon Nankhumwa said the situation is now improving in the flood affected areas and that people will be relocated very soon. He also indicated that in some areas people have begun returning to their homes. 

However, Nankhumwa said currently, government is involved in the process of doing assessment of the damage caused by the floods and the report will be out very soon which will inform the financial resources, materials and technical support needed for the reconstruction and rehabilitation process.

Nkankhumwa has therefore asked governments and organizations to come in and assist Malawi as it is conducting reconstruction and rehabilitation process.