IFAW Delivers K5m Relief to Kasungu National Park Cyclone Freddy victims

Kasungu, Malawi - The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), a global non-profit organization helping animals and people thrive together, has provided relief items worth MK5 million to communities affected by Cyclone Freddy in the peripheral of Kasungu National Park, writes Charles Mkoka.

The three protected areas, including Kasungu, Lukusuzi, and Luambe National Parks, which lie on the common border with the Malawi Department of National Parks and Wildlife and the Zambian Wildlife Authority, are home to hundreds of wildlife species, including critically endangered animals like the African wild dog.

Therefore, there is a need for sustainable management to combat wildlife crime collectively.

The relief items worth over MK5 million include flour, plastic sheeting, blankets, sugar, salt, soya pieces, buckets, plates, and cups to help the victims return to normalcy.

Senior Chief Lukwa expressed gratitude to IFAW for the prompt response to the tragedy that affected families, especially those at Chisiwiri village, located in Kayesa area.

"I am more than happy that IFAW has come to the rescue of my subjects. Let me take this opportunity to advise my people to plant trees around their houses. These trees will be able to protect us in our villages. Climate change is here, let's ensure we protect ourselves from the devastating effects of natural disasters," Lukwa said in an interview.

IFAW's Country Director for Malawi - Zambia Landscape Programme, Patricio Ndadzela, explained that they got a call that one of the communities they work with had been affected by the cyclone.

"That was actually a call, despite not being in the humanitarian sector. We needed to be with the people in times of need. We conducted an assessment and found out that indeed a lot of people had been affected—23 families, which are close to 120 people in this village, which is closer to Kasungu National Park," said Ndadzela.

"We thought we can be with these people, give them relief items so that for some days they try to re-organise themselves because most of the houses have collapsed. Some people have been injured and it is a stressful situation. So, we thought that whatever little we have, we needed to share with the people in time of need. These are the communities we work with.”

IFAW is implementing the Protecting Malawi-Zambia Landscapes with Kasungu, Lukusizi, and Luambe National Parks as habitats along the frontiers of Malawi and Zambia.