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Malawi Red Cross Society has participated in this year’s International Volunteer Day where it showcased its Volunteer’s works in Malawi.

At the commemoration event that took place in Lilongwe on Friday, MRCS showcased how volunteers support in areas of First Aid, Disaster Management, Public Health Emergencies, where Labour Minister Engineer Vitumbiko Mumba appreciated the role Red Cross Volunteers play in various sectors of Development.

He said “through this MRCS Pavilion, I am now well conversant with all the Red Cross Work, and I have to applaud the Red Cross volunteers. We have indeed seen them in a number of public events and communities serving. This is very much appreciated, and keep it up”

In his remarks, Minister Mumba challenged all volunteer organizations to do more to support Malawi’s Agenda 2063.

During the event Malawi Red Cross Vice President Steve Naziri joined the Minister in planting trees as the country is in the season of tree planting.

This year’s World Volunteer Day is commemorated under the theme “Volunteer Actions Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Future.

As part of empowering communities to fully participate in disaster preparedness through Anticipatory Actions, Malawi Red Cross Society with support from the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) through the Danish Red Cross under the Enabling effective disaster risk management thru systems of interagency anticipatory action using a multispectral approach (DRIMIAA) project has handed over money amounting to 51 Million Kwacha to communities in Phalombe and Blantyre Districts to be used for Locally led anticipatory action activities.

In the areas of Traditional Authority Kaduya and Kaledzera in Phalombe, people with disabilities are involved in implementation activities to address the challenges they face during disasters.

During a symbolic handover in Phalombe a held in December, District Rehabilitation Officer Pius Chelewani said”; this financial support to communities is timely as they have chosen to do road grading. They will contribute to easy accessibility during disaster response, where, even those with disability, could struggle”

Chelewani commended MRCS for this initiative of empowering communities to implement what they think are activities affecting their respective areas.

In Blantyre Communities under Traditional Authority Kapeni are covering houses using plastic sheets, as many houses in the area are always at risk of collapsing during heavy rains. Some are clearing waterways which were blocked with past water disasters, both drainages and rivers. 

MRCS Head of Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Leonard Maganga, has since pledged MRCS’s commitment to empowering communities with such Anticipatory Action activities through various projects.

“In our disaster management, Anticipatory Action activities are one key element, that if communities are fully part of, disaster mitigation would easily be achieved, thanking the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations through Danish Red Cross for the financial and technical support.

Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) Malawi office has today distributed Cash amounting to 150 million Kwacha and Maize worthy over 231 million Kwacha to 10,180 Mozambican Asylum Seekers at Nyamithuthu Camp in Nsanje District.

Malawi Red Cross Director of Programs and Development Mrs. Gloria Kunyenga has thanked WFP for the partnership and timely support of food and cash to the asylum seekers. She has since appealed for more support in the areas of shelter, WASH, and energy for cooking.

One of the asylum seekers, Elizabeth Antonio, who has received cash and Maize, thanked WFP and MRCS for the assistance. "I am happy with the assistance we have received today. Food has been a great challenge since we arrived at this camp." Said Elizabeth.

More and more humanitarian assistance is urgently needed as more asylum seekers continue to arrive and are being registered by the Department of Refugees (DFR) in collaboration with the Department of Immigration and UNHCR

The DFR has designated Tengani camp as a transit centre where individuals from other camps are screened before relocating them to the main settlement site at Nyamithuthu Camp. 

"The population at Tengani is rapidly growing, necessitating increased humanitarian support, hence the appeal." Said Gloria. 

Relocation to Nyamithuthu has been delayed due to incomplete preparations for accommodating a larger population, with water and shelter among the critical gaps.

Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) has installed 10 floodlights at Nyamithuthu settlement, distributed 1,000 female hygiene kits and 100 kitchen sets. MRCS in collaboration with the WASH cluster has also distributed 254 (20-liter) buckets to 127 families (2 buckets per Hous2hold) at Khope Camp in TA Mbenje and 246 buckets to 246 families at Chadzuka Camp in TA Tengani.

MRCS has also pitched tents and constructed temporary toilets at all the camps and provided Restoring Family Links services, where free phone calls are still provided to the asylum seekers linking them with their families and registration of unaccompanied minors.

Malawi is from December 2024 hosting asylum seekers from Mozambique, following post-election political violence in Mozambique

Malawi Red Cross Society has finalized reviewing the Draft 2025 to 2030 Multi-Year Climate Action Strategy, which is aimed at supporting communities to anticipate, adapt, mitigate and respond to the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events 

This process is with support from USAID through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) under the Scaling Up Locally Led adaption and Transforming Humanitarian Responses to Climate Change Project which is currently under implementation in Mulanje Phalombe and Chikwawa districts.

During the two-day review meeting in Lilongwe, the MRCS Climate task force reviewed and aligned the draft strategy with current national, MRCS and IFRC priorities when it comes to Climate Change  

Both MRCS Head of Disaster Management Mr Patrick Phiri and Head of Planning, Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting Mr. Leonard Maganga agrees such a process is vital in ensuring the document is up to date and has incorporated all priority areas for an effective Climate change response.

 At the closing, Mr Maganga said “We have done this job, reviewing the draft strategy, next is to consolidate it by  way of proofreading, before submitting it to the steering group which comprises of the IFRC team, and then share it with  MRCS Senior Management for approval before dissemination”

The Review process follows a stakeholder consultation which took place in October 2024 where various government Ministries, Departments/Agencies and representation of the civil society organizations participated. MRCS Senior Management Team and Partner National Societies (PNSs) were engaged  at the formulation of the strategy.

Malawi Red Cross Society was recently commended by the Regional Coordinator for Disaster and Climate Crisis at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Patrick Ole Twala for leading well in Climate Change activities in the region, citing one of the key achievement - the development of Climate Change Action Strategy, which is now under scrutiny.

Malawi Red Cross Society on Tuesday distributed cash amounting to 120 million Kwacha to 3,175 people whose houses were destroyed by the Tropical Cyclone Chido in Phalombe district. 

This is with financial assistance from the Danish Red Cross to support the families with shelter needs.

The Beneficiaries were all smiles getting the cash support saying it is a great relief.

“My name is Mary Mangazuwa from Misomali village and I have 4 children, with no proper structure. This money will help us buy black sheet paper to cover part of the house which was destroyed”. 

Another Beneficiary is a 54-year-old Godfrey Banda from Mileme village Traditional Authority Jenala. He said; “I have 6 Children and we are struggling when it comes to sleeping at night. This money has come at a right time when rainy season is in progress, with this support, our house now will be covered, Thank you Red Cross” 

MRCS Director of Programs and Development Gloria Kunyenga advised the beneficiaries to use the support for its intended purpose.

“We are all aware that most communities are currently in fields growing different crops with the rainy season, and any cash is being diverted to Fertilizer and other home needs such as School fees, so it is our desire to see families solving Shelter issues first and other needs thereafter”. Kunyenga said.

During the distribution, communities were also reached with Health and hygiene promotion Messages such as Cholera Prevention.

This Emergency Response is specifically targeting Phalombe district with cash transfers and other Mental Health and Psychological Social Support activities. 

Malawi Red Cross Society Integrated Community Based Health Programs supported by Gesundes Afrika has exited with huge successes after a two-year implementation in Dowa district. Among others, the project managed to improve Livelihoods of communities in the impact areas with access to Clean Water, Health services and Hygiene promotion.

A Lessons learnt workshop has since been held, where project staff and government stakeholders from Dowa District Council agreed, Dowa impact areas of the project have Clean Water, improved Health services and Hygiene has been promoted.

For the past two years, the project reached out to close to 350,000 people by improving their health and hygiene status in the areas of three Traditional Authorities of Chiwere, Mkukula and Msakambewa . These include, Pregnant women, Under-five children and out of school youths.

According to MRCS Head of Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting, Leonard Maganga, MRCS Satisfaction is in these success stories where beneficiaries are happy that their Health status has been improved, giving the organization hope for more interventions in the area.

He said "We are leaving Dowa but not forever. It remains one of MRCS priority districts in project implementations in case we have any funding window", Said Maganga.

Dowa District Environment Health Officer James Mtonga commended the interventions which he said has put Dowa on the map on other successes.

“For these two years, MRCS has really helped us as a council. Some communities were walking long distances to get medical care, but the Outreach clinics that the project supported, brought health facilities at a door step.  The boreholes have been constructed in areas where they used unclean water since time in memorial, and the Sexual Reproductive Health of Out of School Youths are such impacts the communities will live to remember.” Said Mtonga.

Key notable achievements are the Construction and Rehabilitation of 7 boreholes which have given access to Clean Water to hundreds of Communities, and 145 Outreach clinics that were conducted and have benefited Pregnant women, Lactating Mothers and Under-five Children.

Malawi Government through the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) and Government Contracting Unit (GCU) has commended the progress of the construction works of the Malawi Red Cross Society Emergency Response Operation Centre (EOC) in Blantyre.

Speaking during the monitoring visit in Blantyre on Tuesday after touring the construction works being carried out, officials from GCU and PPDA said the works are progressing very well and were optimistic that the construction works would be completed as scheduled.

“As a government, we are impressed with the construction works that are being carried out here and are following the contractual obligations. We are hopeful that all things being equal, the construction works will be completed by 18th November 2025." Said GCU Director Louis Chakhwantha.

EOC construction project Manager Patrick Phiri thanked the two Government Directorates for the visit and the guidance they continue providing to MRCS on the project implementation. 

The 2-year Project is being financed by Malawi Government through the Public Sector Investment Program and the National Society Investment Alliance (NSIA) funded by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) on Tuesday morning distributed over 72 million Kwacha to 1,029 households with cash transfers amounting to K70,000.00 each in Phalombe and Blantyre districts under Anticipatory Actions in readiness for Cyclone Jude.

The support was provided with funding from the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) through the Danish Red Cross under the Enabling effective disaster risk management thru systems of interagency anticipatory action using a multispectral approach (DRIMIAA) project.

MRCS district coordinator for Phalombe Yamikani Makwinja, said the cash is meant to assist people in readiness for cyclone Jude such as moving to safe places, to reduce the impact in their respective areas, among others.

One of the beneficiaries, Chrissy Tchukambiri, has described the support as timely.

MRCS has targeted households in the two traditional authorities of Kaduya and Kaledzera in the district with financial support.

Malawi Red Cross intensified its Anticipatory Action interventions on Tuesday that included include Radio messages, Van Publicity, Community meetings and Advance Cash Transfers.

Malawi Red Cross Society on Thursday handed over the Solar Powered Reticulated Water Supply System with 16 taps at Ngala Trading Centre and the VIP Latrine at Ndomono Primary School, constructed under the cholera preparedness project implemented in communities of Traditional Authorities Kyungu and Mwirang'ombe in Karonga district with support from FCDO through the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Speaking at the handover of a K210 million Ngara Solar powered water supply system at Ngala Primary School in Karonga, Head of Health and Social Services at Malawi Red Cross Society, Dan Banda said the establishment of 16 water points will play a crucial role in preventing cholera outbreaks in what has been a Cholera hotspot area.

Banda adds that the launch of 2025/30 Multi-sector Cholera control plan is a clear manifestation of the government's commitment to control cholera in the country.

Receiving the Solar powered water supply system on behalf of the Karonga communities was the Director of Agriculture Services for Karonga District Council Mr. Youngs Nyirenda. “Efforts to control cholera outbreaks in cholera hotspot areas can be achieved if communities can have access to clean and safe drinking water from facilities such as the one being handed over today by the Malawi Red Cross Society”. Said Nyirenda while thanking the Malawi Red Cross for the project.

GVH Muyereka of the area explained that the installation of the water supply system will ensure access to reliable access to potable water saying in the past they used to rely on untreated water from the lake.

The water supply system which has two reserve tanks of 10,000 liters each and Chlorine dosing chamber for water treatment targets 480 households and has the capacity to increase more tap connections with a lifespan of over 20 years with proper maintenance. 

The Malawi Red Cross Society has been implementing an Integrated Cholera Preparedness Project in five districts across the country including Karonga, Salima, Mangochi, Blantyre and Nsanje districts with funding from FCDO through the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The project aimed at improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services, and reduce the risk of cholera outbreaks in the five districts.

Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) has today commenced cash distributions to the people that were affected by Tropical Cyclone Chido in 4 districts with a total of over 27 million Kwacha being distributed today to 157 households in the area of Senior Chief Kapeni in Blantyre.

According to Malawi Red Cross Society Emergency Operations Coordinator Louis Toby Solomon, the households will also receive Non-Food Items (NFIs) for shelter and will also benefit through a number of complementary activities especially in capacity building around Shelter, Health, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Protection Gender and Inclusion (PGI). “This operation is under the IFRC Regional Emergency Appeal which will end in December 2025.” Added Solomon.

Through the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF), 1,689 households will be supported in Blantyre (157), Zomba (272), Balaka (587) and Kasungu (673) households. Each household will receive total of 180 thousand Kwacha which is aimed at rehabilitation of shelter amounting to 100 thousand kwacha and multipurpose cash amounting to 80 thousand kwacha.

The cash distribution exercise is expected to continue up until next week, targeting the remaining districts of Kasungu, Balaka and Zomba.

Meanwhile, the Malawi Red Cross is on the ground conducting detailed assessments following the recent Tropical Cyclone Jude that has affected several districts in the southern Malawi affecting thousands of people who are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) in collaboration with Malawi Defense Force (MDF) with technical and financial support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has successfully trained 18 journalists from various Media houses on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in relation to journalism.

The two-day training in Dowa, equipped the journalists with various issue on IHL and how best they can apply it in times of armed conflicts and in the wake of the upcoming General Elections where conflicts becomes order of the day.

Malawi Red Cross Society Director of Programs and Development Gloria Kunyenga said “Media professionals play a vital role in shaping public understanding of armed conflicts and the consequences thereof, shedding light on events that might otherwise remain hidden from view. This responsibility extends beyond wartime, as journalists also contribute significantly to raising awareness of IHL during periods of peace.”

 “Malawi is preparing for the General Elections and we believe the media are better placed to have knowledge of International Humanitarian Law and be able to disseminate it”. Kunyenga added.

MDF Deputy Chief of Legal Services Lieutenant Colonel William Mfune asked the Media to use this opportunity to advance their skills on Conflict reporting.

“For any information to flow and reach many, the media takes a bigger role, we also are glad that some media practitioners in Malawi are now conversant with IHL issues and we trust that the awareness will go beyond, where the National Committee on IHL in Malawi may reach.

The Media Participants were drawn from Bwaila Media Club, a Central Region Media membership driven, whose Executive Member Dickson Chivwati Gondwe thanked @MalawiRedCross and ICRC for organizing the training.

“Malawi Red Cross is one of the key and true partner in Media Issues, this is not the first time they are engaging us” said Gondwe.

For the past few years Malawi has been affected by disastrous weather conditions which has negatively impacted on people’s lives and livelihood. The lack of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, combined with people’s vulnerability to climate risks, is making disaster losses more severe. 

Malawi Red Cross Society climate change program supported by Flanders government through Belgian Red Cross titled ‘Strengthening community resilience to climate change through nature-based solutions in rural communities in Phalombe and Blantyre, is yielding results, midway into implementation.

The project aims at addressing the challenges of climate change through nature-based solutions and community resilience-building measures.

For example, in Phalombe district Beneficiaries and stakeholders have testified. 

Through the project, 150 lead farmers across Traditional Authority Nkhulambe were trained in Climate Smart Agriculture in areas such as agroforestry, mulching farming, mixed cropping, production of organic fertilizer and local methods of dealing with Fall Army Worms. 

Albert Makondetsa a lead farmer from Nkhulambe village said “Previously our farming was just basic, we could prepare huge land but harvesting less, as we could not know some new ways in the wake of Climate change. Now Red Cross has imparted new knowledge, we have trained other follower farmers, we are harvesting more, while preserving environment”.

Petro Dziwanani is from, Group Village Headman Degadega “I have planted 90 agroforestry trees in my field that can help to bring fertility and 20 fruit trees that will help my family to start business and have food.” 

Phalombe District Principal Agriculture Officer Glyn Chitete has since commended the Red project interventions in the district” What Red Cross is implementing in Climate Smart Agriculture is aligning well with government priorities in Agenda 2063 on Food security and environment, we look forward to improved communities now and beyond” said Chitete.

Apart from Climate Smart Agriculture and Afro- forestry, this Malawi Red Cross Society two -year project is also supporting 10 Village Disaster Risk Management Committees (VDRMCs) in the same Traditional Authority to give them capacity in preparedness and response against disasters. They were later supported with Seasonal Weather Forecast Banner, Stretcher, Solar Lamps, Mega Phone, First Aid Kit and Mobile Phones to assist the communities in Search and Rescue, Early Warning and First Aid.

Some secondary schools in the district have revamped Disaster Risk Management Clubs where leaners do establish trees planting initiatives to achieve a vegetative cover within their premises and also awareness raising to surrounding communities in conserving the environment.

MRCS Coordinator for project Goerge Mwimaniwa is hopeful the project is on track midway through implementation 

“The project has already exceeded its targets. Each of the 10 communities now has functional committees for natural resources, disaster risk management, and early warning, alongside farmer clubs led by trained lead farmers, School DRM clubs, and Village savings and loans groups” 

He added that these efforts have established a robust foundation for sustainable and climate-friendly agricultural and forestry practices, as well as enhanced disaster preparedness. Notably, a total of 111,000 trees have been planted, surpassing the annual target of 50,000”