MALAWI MUSLIMS LEAD FLOODS RELIEF EFFORTS

by: Prince Jamal, OnIslam Malawi Correspondent

As Malawi grabbles with devastating effects of its worst floods disaster in history, the Muslim community in the southern African nation has mobilized a massive humanitarian relief aid to avert the disaster, which has killed scores of people and displaced thousands others.

“This is the most trying moment in our country. As a community, we are very much disturbed by the level of devastation these floods have caused to this country,” Aamir Jakhura, Spokesperson of Asian Muslims Relief Aid (AMRA), a charity managing the humanitarian aid told OnIslam.net.

“There is an atmosphere of hopelessness and despair among Malawians. It is like the whole country has been turned upside down. This is the reason we have been compelled to mobilize this humanitarian response to contain effects of the devastation,” he added.

The floods have hit the southern part of the country. Phalombe, Mulanje, Zomba, Mangochi, Chikhwawa and Nsanje ate the worst-hit districts.

Government statistics indicate that 200 people are reported dead and scores others have gone missing. About 600,000 people have been displaced.

“We have mobilized resources towards this response to stand in solidarity with those in pain. Through this gesture, we are condoling with all those people who have lost their beloved ones and property. Islam teaches us to give to those in need,” Jakhura said.

“In times of adversity, people’s faith is affected. They tend to wonder why things happen this way. Through this response, therefore, we are telling them that there is always a solution to every adversity,” he added.

This program, Jakhura said is targeting all affected Malawians, irrespective of their religious persuasions.

“We are reaching out to all without any form of discrimination. This is the beauty of Islam. This is critical time in our nation. It is a period of grief. Let us bury our differences, religious or otherwise and comfort the victims during this time of need.”

The charity has committed to the tune of US$750,000 towards the response. Beneficiaries are being provided with food packs, mosquito nets, blankets, maize seeds and cash handouts.

Tents have been erected for those left homeless and many have found refuge in classroom blocks and church buildings.

“Due to the gravity of the situation, the amount of resources we had mobilized is far-less inadequate to meet the needs of the affected people at this time. We are therefore trying everything possible to mobilize enough resources so that these people can be saved from life -threatening challenges from the disaster,” said Jakhura.

Praise

Amra’s response has won itself plaudits from the country’s leadership and traditional leaders.

The country’s President Arthur Peter Mutharika, speaking to the press while touring some of the affected areas commended Amra for the gesture describing it as a “true spirit of humanity.”

“The damage these floods have caused to this country is quite immeasurable. My government has been put in a tight corner. I therefore commend organizations like Amra for this swift response to my appeal. Amra, has demonstrated a true spirit of humanity to alleviate the suffering of the people,” the country’s leader said.

“Without international and local support, Malawi would be hard-pressed to respond to this disaster”.

Paul Kalilombe, the District Commissioner for Phalombe, has described the situation as “horrendous”, commending Amra for what he called “rapid response” to the disaster.

“The situation here is quite horrendous. This is one of the worst disasters so far in the history of the country. Government is struggling economically to address basic social amenities. It’ s going to be practically hard for government to come to the rescue of those affected within a short time as Amra has done,” Kalilombe told OnIslam.net.

“In the same vein, allow me to appeal to other organizations, both local and international to respond to our appeal for support towards the disaster. The needs are quite overwhelming, that a single organization can’t adequately address them. My district is one of the worst-hit.”

Traditional leaders in the affected districts have also appealed for more aid before the situation “gets out of hand.”

“As traditional leaders, we are moved by what Amra has done. This emergency relief has given us a new lease of life. Their level of generosity is beyond measure,” Senior Chief Kaduya of Phalombe, told OnIslam.net.

“However, we are appealing for more support towards the disaster. The situation on the ground is quite dire. Unless, enough assistance reaches to the people in time, the situation can get out of hand. We would be witnessing deaths in the camps resulting from so many factors, including poor sanitation.”

Helping Hand

“Without this level of support, life could have been unbearable to the most of us. But this swift response has made life at least easier to us. This has boosted our spirits and given us hope that life would be back to normal, soon,” Martha Mtema, told OnIslam.net. According to the stories shared by those affected by the floods, the aid offered by the Muslim charity group has given them hope in life.

Mtema who lost all her family members to the disaster continued: “After losing my parents and siblings to the disaster, life has been nightmare.”

“We lost everything in the process. I have nowhere to sleep. This gesture has given me something to start from. At least, I have food and a blanket. What I need now is a house to sleep in. Without a house, life will continue to be a continued struggle,” she added.

Concurring with Mtema, George Adamson, who claims to have lost his wife and a child in the course of the disaster, praised Amra for providing relief without discriminating beneficiaries on the basis of their religious beliefs.

“What is quite amazing me is the fact that all victims of the disaster are benefiting in equal measure regardless of their religious beliefs. Islam is teaching us about true love and a spirit of co-existence in diversity,” Adamson, a devout Catholic told OnIslam.net.

Malawi ranked by the World Bank as one of the most impoverished nations in the world with its majority poor struggling to survive on less than US$1 a day, experiences floods annually, though the government says this year’s rainfall was different.

The World Food Program (WFP) is among several organizations delivering food stuffs to displaced people in the most-hard hit areas. It estimates 77 metric tons of biscuits to feed 77,000 people have been airlifted to Malawi.

Malawi is currently facing severe economic challenges following the withdrawal of 40% of donor funds in 2013 over a corruption scandal in the country.

Meanwhile, the National Response Plan in the country is seeking US$81 million towards the disaster.

Officially, Malawi is a secular state, but with diverse religions. Islam is the second largest religion after Christianity. Muslims account for 36% of the country’s 16 million population.

While government continues to appeal for more aid to avert rising effects of the disaster, the Muslim community in the country through Amra has intensified efforts to mobilize much resource towards the disaster, at the when rains in the country continue to fall, creating panic and fear among people in the flood prone areas.

“We should admit as a nation, as the state president has done that we are facing a serious disaster. We should therefore rise up to face the challenge as one family,” said Jakhura.

“Let us rise above our religious beliefs and help the people in need. Let us make sacrifices to assist our brothers and sisters who are desperate for our benevolence.” (T/P011/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)