Foundation for Promoting Psychology in Africa (FPROPA), in conjunction with Water Wells for Africa (WWA) and Heart-to- Heart Foundation, has donated a consignment of mattresses and bags of maize and beans worth K1.7 million to Osiyana Relocation Camp in Nsanje District.
The camp is home to survivors of last year’s floods who were asked to resettle to higher ground as a mitigation measure.
The foundation’s Executive Director, Exford Bester, said the three organisations were deeply touched with the plight of the survivors of the floods that swept away most of their belongings.
“The flood victims did a good thing by moving to higher ground. It does not make sense for them to continue living in flood prone areas and lose property and lives every year. So we are here to thank them for heeding calls to leave the flood-prone areas,” explained Bester.
He said his organisation encourages people to move out of situations that make them dependent on others.
Bester noted that self-reliance is one of the ways households and individuals can contribute towards the development of the country.
“We wish we did more to help in uplifting the lives of the resettled people of Osiyana Camp but this is what we have managed to source. The message we are sending here is that these people should not go back to the flood-prone areas,” said Bester.
One of the recipients, an elderly gogo Antonio, thanked the three organisations for the kind gesture.
She said life has been hard for all the relocated villagers since they had lost most of their belongings.
“We live in a situation where we do not know where our next meal will come from. Beddings are also a need here. We sleep on the floor- so the mattresses we have been given are like a dream to us,” she concluded.
Nsanje is one of the country’s most flood-prone districts with thousands of people losing their lives, livestock and other belongings each rainy season.
Leave a Reply