By Rahim Abdul
The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has received a K50 million donation from humanitarian organisation Ashraful Aid to support Malawian women who recently returned from South Africa after fleeing xenophobic attacks.
The donation was presented in Blantyre on Thursday, where Ashraful Aid Chief Executive Director Abdullah Panjwani said the organisation considered it necessary to assist the returnees as they begin rebuilding their lives back home.
Panjwani said the assistance is aimed at empowering 555 women through financial support that will enable them to start small businesses and provide for their families.
He explained that each beneficiary will receive K90,000 through the Social Cash Transfer system to ensure the funds are used effectively.
According to Panjwani, extending support to the women is a demonstration of solidarity with fellow Malawians who were forced to leave South Africa because of xenophobic violence.
He added that the organisation believes economic empowerment is one of the best ways of helping affected families regain their independence.
Receiving the donation, DoDMA Director of Preparedness and Response Charles Matabwa described the contribution as timely, saying it complements government’s ongoing efforts to reintegrate returnees into society.
Matabwa said the government has already developed a three-year National Reintegration Strategy to provide long-term support to Malawians returning from different countries under difficult circumstances.
He noted that the strategy focuses on helping returnees restore their livelihoods and become self-reliant.
Matabwa further observed that empowering women financially has wider benefits because resources placed in the hands of women often improve the welfare of entire households.
He expressed confidence that the K50 million donation will make a meaningful difference in the lives of the 555 beneficiary families.
Ashraful Aid’s contribution comes as government and humanitarian partners continue working together to provide relief and sustainable support to Malawians returning home following xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
