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| Bishop Mtumbuka (left) and Archbishop Msusa presenting a symbolic donation to one of the flood victims |
The Catholic Secretariat of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) on Tuesday (10thMarch) launched a national wide flood response worthy one Billion Malawi Kwacha (about 2.2 Million USD) at a function held at January Parish, in Thyolo district.
Speaking at the function, Most Rev. Thomas Luke Msusa, Chairman of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi and Archbishop of Blantyre Archdiocese said that the Catholic Church in Malawi has been alarmed and grieved by the displacement of thousands of people whose homes and crops were destroyed by the raging floods which also killed hundreds of people and injured many.
Earlier, the Bishop’s Conference in Malawi set aside the 8th February, 2015 as a special Sunday for the collections of relief and dedicated all the collections for the AMECEA thanksgiving Mass on 31st January 2015 towards supporting the victims.
Archbishop Msusa said that the ECM is pleased with the generosity shown by the faithful in Malawi for contributing about 240 metric tons of assorted items that included clothes, shoes, blankets, maize, beddings and non-perishable snacks like Kamba puffs, kitchen utensils, and beans among others.
“We commend the oneness and unity in joy and tribulation, which the Catholic Church in Malawi has shown, and we continue to ask well-wishers to keep contributing towards this noble cause. The demand for relief items in the affected 15 districts is still huge,” he said.
ECM acting Secretary General, Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo thanked the Universal Church for hearing the appeal for assistance towards the flood disaster.
He said, “Our brothers and sisters across the world, through the Caritas International mobilized resources for the flood response in Malawi”.
Fr. Chimombo also challenged Catholic faithful in leadership positions to live to their Christian values by advocating for pro-poor and resilient building policies so that emergencies like floods do not always find Malawians off guard.
Both Traditional Authority Ngolongoliwa and a Gift Mafuleka from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) commended the Catholic Church in Malawi for responding to the call by Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi to support the flood affected households.
Before the official launch, all the Bishops paid a solidarity visit to Goliati Mitabali evacuation camps.
The Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) which is the relief and development arm of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi is coordinating the distribution of relief items in the affected areas.
The Launching event was also attended by Most Rev. Thomas Luke Msusa, Chairman of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi and Archbishop of Blantyre Archdiocese, Rt. Rev. Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga diocese, Rt. Rev. Peter Musikuwa of Chikwawa diocese and Rt. Rev. Montfort Sitima of Mangochi diocese; while Zomba, Mzuzu, and Lilongwe dioceses were also represented by Diocesan Administrators and Vicars General respectively.
By Prince Henderson, ECM Communications Officer