The Chikwawa District Council has implored stakeholders to construct houses for about 702 households who relocated to Pakamwa area, Traditional Authority (TA) Makhuwira, a year after being hit by Cyclone Freddy in TA Ngabu.

The council's director of planning and development, Thokozire Munthali said despite the Department of Disaster and Management Affairs (DoDMA) procuring the land, the families are lacking basic social necessities including dwelling units.

"The Cyclone Freddy rendered destitute at least 702 households and are living in shacks in Pakamwa area besides that they also lack basic social needs, hence my call for the construction of houses," she said.

Munthali made the remarks when Good Neighbors Malawi launched the 2024 Humanitarian Emergency Relief initiative worth U$330 million in the area targeting 6, 000 households in Chikwawa and Balaka, where she also disclosed that about 85, 000 families are facing hunger in the district.

She said they bought the land at the edge of the hill where the people now call their home through DoDMA.

However, on a visit by Zodiak to the houses, it was noted that the hill has vivid streams where water also gushed out and caused havoc downstream.

On this, Munthali indicated that they are working to drench the streams.

It was also observed that the survivors were lacking food, nutrition supplements for children and psycho-social support as most of them experienced the first-hand tragic loss of their relatives during the floods.

The survivors, Christina Njuzi and a 53-year-old man, Fred Wisite, described their lives at the new settlement as miserable and hopeless after Ruo and Namyala rivers swept away all their belongings.

They said they were relying on piece works in the dambos and eating unpalatable wild tubers including maize husks and cooked mango.

DoDMA deputy director of response, Fyawupi Mwafongo while commending Good Neighbors for the support, said they are looking for other partners to aid the people.

Gyo Jin Joo, country director for Good Neighbors Malawi said "the assistance was in response to president Lazarus Chakwera's declaration of state of emergency in 23 districts".

The food relief package includes, maize, soy flour, cooking oil, soya pieces and usipa fish with funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and RAPID.