By Chisomo Phiri
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of Malawi on Friday signed an agreement to import 48,000 metric tons of maize, valued at US$ 35 million and funded by the World Bank Group, to help food-insecure communities affected by the El Niño-induced drought.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Lilongwe, WFP Regional Director for Southern Africa Eric Perdison reaffirmed their commitment to helping the country alleviate the hunger crisis.
“This collaboration shows the strength of partnerships in tackling the challenges caused by climate-related crises,” he said.
World Bank Country Manager for Malawi, Firas Raad, said the bank mobilized US$ 50 million earlier this year to help Malawi address the impact of the recent El Niño-induced drought in the country.
“We hope this financing will provide greater food security to vulnerable households, and we are proud of our close collaboration with WFP,” Raad said.
Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA),Charles Kalemba noted that the gesture reflects the strong commitment of the Government and its partners to alleviating hunger and improving food security in the country.
“This is a significant step in complementing Malawi Government’s efforts in provision of relief assistance to food-insecure households across the country,” said Kalemba.
Malawi is currently facing acute food insecurity challenges, with 5.7 million people rendered food insecure following the El Niño-induced drought, which negatively affected 44% of crops.
