Groups that were supported with Cash Transfers under Malawi Red Cross Society project financed by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) through the Danish Red Cross under the Enabling effective disaster risk management through systems of interagency anticipatory action using a multispectral approach (DRIMIAA) are appreciating the empowerment made, which they say is benefiting their communities well in Phalombe and Blantyre.
In Phalombe two groups of Mlambe and Chitsanzo have changed their communities with Locally led anticipatory action activities, where they embarked on clearing blocked bridges and constructing new community bridges and waterways, as a way of ensuring good flow of water in case of heavy rains.
Mlambe group chairperson Enock Luciano, whose group has 28 members including those with disabilities, said” Before embarking on this intervention people could hardly access areas such as the hospital, market and other community services as this river, that we helped to clear trash for good flow of water, was always flooding during rainy season, affecting nearby villages. Even during Cyclone Jude, our villages were spared, we thank Red Cross for the cash given to us which we used to hire a grader to help us because the clearance job was huge”.
For Chitsanzo group in Traditional Authority Kaledzera, parents of children with disabilities are involved in clearing waterways also and were part of constructing a bridge which has brought a sigh of relief, as their dependence were victims, when a disaster struck.
“My name is Nelly Supedi, I have a 22-year disabled daughter who sometime collapses anywhere, any times, even in running waters when moving to places, but now she is protected as we will have less waters flooding since we have cleared water ways”. Another parent Jessy Maotha also thanked Red Cross. She said that her 10-year-old girl is no longer in danger, as she easily crosses on the bridge when water levels are high, as compared to the past.
Stakeholders in the district have commended such an initiative to empower communities to be prepared and reduce the impacts of a disaster when it struck.
Phalombe Social Welfare Officer responsible for Social Cash Transfer Frackson Chidzalo said, “What Red Cross is doing here in our district is very commendable, communities that are benefitting are testifying, we only request if this initiative is scaled up to reach more, as almost all areas are disaster prone”.
On his part Phalombe District Rehabilitation Officer under Malawi Council for the Disability affairs Pius Chelewani said no disabled person was affected, with the effects of Tropical Cyclone Jude, as everyone was well prepared and aware on how to mitigate the impacts with those communities led interventions
