RCA distributes 144 tons of food items to affected in Malawi

Malawi: The UAE Red Crescent Authority, in cooperation with Malawian Red Cross, has distributed about 144 tons of foodstuff to 5000 families affected by drought in six provinces of the Republic of Malawi. The Red Crescent delegation, headed by Hamaid Rashid Al Shamsi, Director of the UAE Red Crescent's Department of Relief and Emergency, yesterday distributed foodstuff to the Mtakta village in the Dedza province, about 160 kilometres south of the capital, Lilongwe, in the presence of Joseph Abbala, Director of Relief at the Malawian Red Cross, as well as representatives of the provincial government and Chief Administrative Officer of the village. In a speech, Humaid Rashid Al Shamsi said that the aid comes in response to an appeal by the government of Malawi to the United Arab Emirates to offer a helping hand and relief to the people of Malawi, who are affected by drought. Approximately 1.7 million people are threatened with severe food shortages, which is equivalent 11% of the total population of Malawi. Al Shamsi emphasised that the RCA is eager to provide humanitarian assistance to affected people all over the world, and provide relief aid such as shelter, medicine, food and clothing, delivering them to those affected as soon as possible. The Malawian beneficiaries expressed their thanks and appreciation for the efforts of those who extended a helping hand to drought victims who are struggling after a sharp decline in the production of agricultural crops and food grains for the third year in a row. They praised the campaign of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to clothe 1 million underprivileged children around the world. – Emirates News Agency, WAM