Malawi: Red Cross Society (MRCS) has extended a donation of kitchen utensils and hygiene kits to 1,000 female asylum seekers. The donation was made at Nyamithuthu Camp in Nsanje District in order to support the women in the camps on Monday
Witnesses have confirmed that the lives of women shelter seekers are more challenging as compared to men. As such, the beneficiaries have taken the opportunity to thank the officials for their support.
MRCS Nsanje District Coordinator Jerome Chide said the donation was aimed at easing challenges female asylum seekers face in the camps.
“These people came from Mozambique without anything. They need a lot of support in all aspects of life. As we know, hygiene kits are very paramount to females,” he said.
Chide said MRCS is committed to supporting asylum seekers in the district. He also noted that the organization is also planning to reach out to other camps to extend the same courtesy to the asylum seekers.
He further said the donation was supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Both these organisations have helped the Red Cross Malawi chapter in helping countless people in need.
The organization has shared that it is important for the people to feel seen and supported. As such, the donations are a part of human resource development and protection across the various communities.
Nsanje District Health Environmental Officer Chisomo Chalemera praised MRCS for supporting the asylum seekers.
“Female hygiene kits and kitchen utensils are a very critical element of sanitation and hygiene, especially in crowded places where disease prevention is crucial,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, who had benefited introduced herself as Julian Juwaki from Mulumbala District in Mozambique. She has said that the donation came timely as she had no means to find sanitary pads and kitchen utensils.
She has therefore hailed the MRCS for the support. Nsanje is home to asylum seekers from Mozambique, after a serious post-election political violence in the country.