UNIMA’s Academic Staff Union donates relief items

The University of Malawi’s academic staff union, the Chancellor College Academic Staff Union (CCASU) on Friday 17th March 2023, donated assorted items to victims of Cyclone Freddy at Mpsyupsyu in the area of Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba district. The union’s representatives navigated the barely passable roads to reach the camps where the survivors are taking shelter. 

The President of CCASU, Dr. Foster Gondwe says two camps hosting displaced families in the area were identified through Zomba District Commissioner’s office, which has been conducting needs assessment of communities affected by the cyclone in Zomba rural and urban areas.  

“One camp has over one hundred people of different age groups, who are using one church building for shelter, while another camp is at St. Michael’s Primary School”, he said.

Dr. Gondwe said CCASU members contributed MK1,045,000.00 towards the donation which included sanitary pads, porridge flour and mosquito nets (with children and pregnant women as priority targets), soya pieces, sugar, salt, plates, plastic sheets, water buckets, cups, toilet paper, among others. He observed that these donations were among the first to reach these camps, since the locations are difficult to access.

“The two camps are, however, still in need of other necessities such as food, beddings, clothes and materials for building rest and washrooms around the camp. CCASU would, therefore, like to appeal to well-wishers to assist wherever they can”, he added. 

Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which hit Malawi’s southern region, has left a devastating toll of floods with around 400 deaths reported, and with nearly 400,000 people as of 18th March, 2023 and sheltering in camps across the flood affected areas where the risk of cholera is very high. Zomba district has the highest number of households affected by the rains.

Malawi Government-led relief efforts are ongoing across multiple districts, with support from humanitarian partners and individuals. Currently, schools and church buildings—which are housing several displaced people—are a focal point of the response.