Mary's Meals International donates 40 metric tonnes of corn-soya blend to aid Cyclone Freddy survivors

Malawi - Mary's Meals International has donated 40 metric tons of corn-soya blend to the Ministry of Education in Malawi to assist survivors of Cyclone Freddy, which devastated the southern region of the country, writes Mphatso Nkuonera.

The donation was valued at K35 million, and was presented to the ministry on Monday, March 20, 2023.

Speaking at the Lunzu Primary School after the donation, Angela- Chipeta Khonje, the Country Director for Mary's Meals, expressed the organization's commitment to saving human lives during these difficult times.

"Our commitment is to see to it that human life is saved by providing people with something to eat. The aftermath of Cyclone Freddy is very huge, and we felt the need to donate to cushion the situation," she said.

The Minister of Education, Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima MP, expressed her gratitude for the timely donation and urged all stakeholders, including the international community, development partners, and non-governmental organizations, to provide much-needed assistance in the camps.

"I would like to most sincerely thank Mary’s Meals for quickly responding to the call by His Excellency the President with a donation of Corn Soya Blend (CSB) to feed people in camps as breakfast," she appealed.

Member of Parliament for Blantyre North East, Fidson Saimon Chisesele, said that Mary's Meals had been long-time friends, helping to reduce school dropout rates in his constituency through their School Feeding programs.

The Ministry has ordered all schools in the ten affected districts to report for classes on April 17, 2023, when the third term commences.

As of Monday, March 20, 2023, the ministry has not issued any statement to the contrary and urges all schools to follow the March 18 circular, which is still valid.