Cyclone Ana victims in urgent need of aid

By Esnart Chingwalu

A plea has gone out to authorities to consider providing necessary aid to learners who have been affected by Cyclone Ana.

Speaking to YFM Online, School Health and Nutrition Coordinator for Phalombe District Education Office Harrison Namazemba said many learners are not not attending classes due to destruction of blocks and lack of uniforms.

Namazemba said classes were also suspended in some schools to accommodate flood victims.

He added that for example school going pupils are having difficulties to go to school because they are lacking school materials and have not been assisted up to now.

Binwell Matipa, one of the protective committee member for Isaima Evacuation Center in Group Village Headman Makawa, Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba district said a total of 109 households that are being kept at the center are going through different difficulties including children.

“About 400 children who are staying at this camp are finding it hard to go to school because most of their properties were washed away and also because of insufficient foods that have been given to them,” said Matipa.

Annie Banda from Makwinja village who is staying at the camp, expressed worry on the challenges that her school going children are going through from the camp.

A visit by YFM Online at the camp established that school going children are unable to go to school because they have nothing to support them in their education.

“Am very worried with my children because I feel like they will not attend school anymore; Cyclone Ana has really affected me all their clothes, school materials were washed away and I only managed to save them and let all our belongings to go including my livestock,” said Banda.