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The Saulos Klaus Chilima (SKC) Foundation has donated assorted relief items worth approximately K10 million to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) to support Malawian nationals returning from South Africa.
Speaking on Wednesday during the handover ceremony at DODMA offices in Lilongwe, one of the Foundation's Trustees, Professor David Mkwambisi, said the donation is primarily intended to assist women who have been forced to return from South Africa by helping restore their dignity and providing them with basic necessities as they rebuild their lives.
Mkwambisi said the Foundation's decision to provide assistance is in line with the vision of the late Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, who believed in supporting vulnerable people during times of crisis.
"We heard that a lot of women and children are suffering at the reception after repatriation and it is our hope as SKC Foundation to advance the philosophy of the late Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima," said Mkwambisi.
Receiving the donation, DODMA's Director of Disaster Response and Resilience, Fyawupi Mwafongo, commended the SKC Foundation for demonstrating compassion towards fellow Malawians during a difficult period.
"These people are facing numerous challenges and the intervention by SKC Foundation is timely and will assist to address Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) challenges,' said Mwafongo.
He also appealed to other organisations and stakeholders to join the humanitarian response to help meet the estimated K24 billion required for the repatriation and support programme.
Mwafongo continued saying as of July 6 this year, more than 30,000 Malawians had already returned from South Africa, while the number of those seeking repatriation continues to increase.
The donated items include water buckets, blankets, and
cooking utensils, which are expected to provide immediate relief to the
returning citizens.
