More than $1 million in humanitarian aid has been airlifted into Malawi to assist the more than 40,000 households that Cyclone Freddy has forced to evacuate.
Around 300 people have regrettably died as a result of Cyclone Freddy’s devastation in the neighboring country of Malawi during the past several days.
Another consignment is being transported by truck from Chipata to Lilongwe in Malawi, according to defense minister Ambrose Lufuma.
“The President of the Republic of Zambia and Commander in Chief of the Defense Forces authorized the Defense to immediately come to the aid of our sister country Malawi following the devastating effects of cyclone Freddie,” he said.
Mr Lufuma said a Zambia Air Force (ZAF) plane carrying the Humanitarian aid has landed in Lilongwe to deliver the first tranche of supplies.
He also noted that a total of 100 metric tons of maize is in transit from Chipata to Lilongwe.
“Zambia is providing assorted items mobilized by our DMMU which items include 300 tents, 300 blankets, 300 mosquito nets, 1,000 dignity kits, 100 Mts of Maize, 50x50kg Bags of Beans, 1,000 kitchen sets, 1,000 salt dozens and 1,000 Chlorine,” he said.
Panji Kaunda, the High Commissioner of Zambia to Malawi, has delivered the help to Malawi in the interim.
Upon presenting the relief at Malawi’s Kamuzu International Airport, Mr. Kaunda noted that a sizable quantity of heavy products, such as grain, will be transported by road.
In addition, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, minister of health for Malawi, praised the assistance, saying it demonstrated cooperation between the two nations.
She added that Zambia had pledged to deploy soldiers and helicopters to assist with the rescue operations.
