40,000 DISASTER VICTIMS SUPPORTED BY OXFM – – Malawi News Online

The number of disaster victims being supported by Oxfam Malawi has reached 40,000, as announced by Oxfam Malawi Country Director, Lingalireni Mihowa.

“Most of the families face hunger because their crops were washed away by water. In addition, people need access to clean water and hygiene. There is also need for assets-building as most of them lost assets and property to the floods,” Mihowa said. Together with a delegation from Oxfam America and other well-wishers appreciate the extent of the damage, Oxfam Malawi is targeting to reach 200,000 households.

On the other hand, building homes for flood victims will cost $365 million (K90 billion), said the Minister of Homeland Security, Nicholas Dausi, who also revealed the long term plan for reconstruction and resettlement.

Currently, Malawi Red Cross Society is constructing temporary houses for flood victims as they relocate from camps. “We are urging other people in low-lying areas to move to other areas to avoid a recurrence of what happened last year” said the Minister” The reconstruction and resettlement program will see strong houses that can withstand such disasters, Dausi revealed. He also thanked individuals that are voluntarily relocating to higher areas.