BLANTYRE -(MaraviPost)- In response to the devastating impacts of cyclone Freddy that ripped through southern Part of the country, Umodzi Park has donated assorted relief items worth MK10 million to survivors of the disaster in Blantyre.
The donation that consisted of bed sheets, towels, maize flour, plastic buckets and soya pieces was made at Ntenjera and Chilapenda Primary schools in Lunzu ward, Chiwalo village TA Kapeni.
Speaking during the donation, John Robson Kamanga, the Chairman of Umodzi Holdings t/a Umodzi Park Resorts disclosed that the initiative is part of Umodzi Park’s Corporate Social Responsibility and through the donation, the company has reached 150 families in the two camps.
“We decided to take part in the initiative launched by the president which aims at sharing the suffering and the pain with those affected by the cyclone.
“We reached out to the district coordination unit through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) which helped us in identifying these two camps and as one of the players in the hospitality industry in the country, we have put together assorted relief items worth 10 million kwacha targeting 150 families,” said Kamanga.
Kamanga added that the company has not been spared from the impacts of the cyclone. He mentioned that the company usually purchases most of its items particularly food items locally and as a result of the cyclone, those staying in the rural and peri urban areas supplying various items to the hotel have also been affected consequently affecting the hotel.
He also disclosed that as a result of the cyclone, the hotel has also witnessed some of the guests that were expected to lodge at the resort cancelling their bookings and meetings so they can take care of those affected.
In an interview with one of the beneficiaries of the donation, George Chithema from Jon kwaja Village, TA Kapeni who is currently camping at Ntenjera Primary school, he commended Umodzi park for the donation and has called upon well-wishers to come in as they’re still several people at the camps in need of assistance.
“I would like to applaud Umodzi Park for the timely and generous donation which will assist those of us at this camp and other areas. We were initially unable to access basic needs including food before the coming of the donation and this has come at the right time.
“We also ask other well-wishers to help us with items that will help us in rebuilding our homes whilst we’re here so that we can return to our respective homes soon,” said Chithema.
Ntenjera Primary school has 112 people consisting of 31 households; 73 women and 39 men. Among the victims at the camp are children both under 5 and primary and secondary school students, pregnant women, the elderly and those disabled.
Cyclone Freddy has so far claimed over 400 lives in different parts of the country, mainly the southern region.
The recent data indicated that at least 345,183 people have been displaced from their homes and are sheltered in about 505 camps across the country. It has also been revealed that currently 282 people are still missing and over 900 were injured following the tragedy.
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