Petroleum Importers Limited Donates to World Vision Malawi to support Tropical Cyclone Freddy Response

Petroleum Importers Limited (PIL) has stepped forward to assist flood victims who were devastated by the effects of Tropical Cyclone Freddy. PIL has donated 80 Million Kwacha (US $96,000) to assist individuals affected by floods in the southern districts of Malawi, and the donation has been made through World Vision Malawi.

Zubeir Bhana, General Manager and CEO for Petroda (Malawi) Limited, one of the shareholders for PIL, stated that they partnered with World Vision Malawi because the organization has the capacity to reach the most vulnerable people affected by the storm.

PIL visited Phalombe district and observed that people are suffering. Bhana expressed hope that this donation will go a long way in alleviating the lack of food and other basic amenities for the affected individuals.

“It is PIL’s hope that this donation will go a long way in alleviating the lack of food and other basic amenities by our brothers and sisters,” said Bhana.

World Vision’s Director of Programs, Tobias Oloo, expressed gratitude to PIL for their generous donation, stating that it will make a significant difference in the relief efforts.

He noted that the situation in evacuation camps is very bad as they may serve as a hub for waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea. Oloo stated that World Vision is working on a strategy to support individuals to return to their homes.

“There are some houses that only fell on one side; we need to equip such households to return to their home so that they can start to recover while at home. This will create space in the centres to prevent the spread of water or airborne diseases,” said Tobias.

Tobias also observed that education would be disrupted if people stayed longer in the evacuation camps.

“Schools were closed because classroom blocks were turned into evacuation camps. We need to make people return to their homes and support them while there so classes can resume as soon as possible,” said Tobias.

Tobias believes this will be achieved in partnership with different stakeholders, including the government.

Malawi was hit by Tropical Cyclone Freddy from 11th to 13th March 2023, affecting 14 districts of the southern region. The worst affected districts were Nsanje, Chikwawa, Blantyre, Phalombe, and Mulanje.

A state of disaster was declared on 13th March 2023 for the 14 affected districts by State President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, who called for development partners to assist the flood victims.

As of now, there have been 499 deaths recorded, 508,244 people displaced, with 534 camps established, 427 people missing, and 1,332 people nursing various degrees of injuries.