Government distributes parboiled rice to victims of hunger

Department of Disaster Management Affairs DoDMA with support from China will distribute 3,270 metric tons of parboiled rice to households who are food insecure in ten districts.

Briefing the district executive committee in Mangochi, Deputy Director of response and recovery at DoDMA Dyce Nkhoma said each household was expected to receive a monthly ration of 25kgs but due to time lapse and logistical delays beneficiaries will receive a one-off double ration of 50kgs to cover for February and March.

Nkhoma said the donation is a response to a MVAC annual assessment report of last year which projected that many people in 20 districts would be at risk of hunger therefore required food assistance during the 2017 to 2018 consumption period.

“In Mangochi district 50,889 affected people in Mponda, Chimwala and Nankumba area will benefit from the rice distribution excercise,” he said

Commenting Mangochi district commissioner Mosses Chimphepo commended government of China for its response.

Chimphepo said the initiative is timely and called upon chiefs and responsible officers to make sure that the food reaches intended beneficiaries.