MADRA Food Relief: Norman Chisale Warns Against Selling Aid in Ntcheu

Member of Parliament for Ntcheu Central, Norman Chisale, has warned residents in his constituency against selling food items being distributed by the Muslim Disaster Relief Aid (MADRA), saying the aid is meant to help families facing hunger.

Chisale, who is also Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, made the appeal at Msiyaludzu Village in Traditional Authority Makwangwala, where MADRA is providing food relief to vulnerable households.

He thanked MADRA for responding at a time when many families in the district are struggling to find food.

“This assistance has come at the right time. I urge people not to sell the food but to use it to feed their families,” Chisale said.

MADRA’s Director of Communications and Public Relations, Ibrahim Omar Mataya, said the organisation has committed about K1 billion to its lean season response programme running up to February this year.

He said the relief packages include maize flour, cooking oil, beans and other food items, and that more than 2,000 families have already benefited in Ntcheu and Balaka.

Mataya added that MADRA has so far raised close to K600 million towards the programme, with food and supplies worth over K500 million already distributed.

He said MADRA has already delivered food aid to several hunger-hit districts, including Thyolo, Mulanje and the Lower Shire area, before extending the programme to Balaka and Ntcheu.

About 7,000 family packs have been distributed so far, reaching an estimated 28,000 people across the country.

MADRA is a consortium of local and international Muslim charitable organisations working with local leaders and the Department of Disaster Management Affairs.

Partner organisations include Limbe Muslim Jamaat, Bilal Trust, Drop of Compassion, Al-Mahmood, An-Nasihah Trust, Ashraful Aid, Blantyre Muslim Youth and Muslim Youth United.