Things will get better- Madame Chakwera

Malawi: Madame Monica Chakwera, the First Lady, has assured people affected by Tropical Storm Ana and Cyclone Gombe in Chikwawa District that the government is taking steps to ensure that they continue to receive the necessary assistance to alleviate their suffering, writes Mercy Makuwira.

Madame Chakwera made the remarks on Wednesday at Kanseche Camp in the district of Paramount Chief Lundu, where she was visiting households affected by Tropical Storm Ana and Cyclone Gombe.

She said: "I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all who responded to the call to help those affected by the floods during and after they occurred. Thank you for saving so many lives."

"However, I would like to request additional assistance from other partners."

To date, the government has raised K14 billion, which will be used to purchase food for those in need, according to Chakwera.

She then asked the flood survivors to relocate to higher ground once they were out of the camp to avoid potential disasters.

"It is so easy to replace your lost crops, but it is difficult to rebuild houses and impossible to replace a life; once it's gone, it's gone," she explained.

She also expressed gratitude to the communities that aided the affected families, saying that their efforts may go unnoticed or unmentioned, but God will recognize them.

Earlier, Paramount Lundu called for more help for those affected, emphasizing that most survivors had lost everything during the disasters.

"I've been told that families who are still in camps did not receive assistance between the months of May and June. I implore the government to continue assisting these people because they have nothing on which to rely," said the paramount chief.

He also requested that households relocated to upper land be permitted to cultivate in their previous fields.

"Some of the previously relocated villages have two villages: one where they live and another where they go during planting season to plant their food; as such, I appeal for the same for these people," Lundu said.

During the event, the First Lady distributed food to 839 families from the Kanseche and Misili camps.

Tropical Storm Ana and Cyclone Gombe devastated the country in January, displacing 89,000 families in Chikwawa District.