STORY: Malawi appeals for more humanitarian support for fleeing Mozambicans
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 31, 2025
DATELINE: Feb. 1, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:56
LOCATION: NSANJE, Malawi
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Mozambicans
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): GILBERT CHAPWETEKA, Nsanje director of health and social services
3. various of Mozambicans
4. various of World Vision Malawi support
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SOBHUZA SIBANDE, Humanitarian emergency affairs manager, World Vision Malawi
6. various of Mozambicans

STORYLINE:

The Malawian government has called for more humanitarian support as thousands of Mozambicans flee to Malawi to escape the post-election violence in their country.

At least 7,330 displaced Mozambicans, representing 3,603 households, have been registered so far in three Malawian border districts, Nsanje and Chikwawa in the southern region and Dedza in the central region, Steven Kayuni, principal secretary at the Ministry of Homeland Security, told Xinhua Wednesday.

"There is support, but we need more as there is so much strain on public services such as healthcare and (provision of) food," said Kayuni, hoping the situation would improve as more partners join the relief efforts to assist the displaced families.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): GILBERT CHAPWETEKA, Nsanje director of health and social services
"Basically, We are here. This is one site that we are receiving our friends from Mozambique. So it's a sort of a refugee camp. And at the moment, as a district, we have these camps for all of them. The communities here started gathering about half a month ago starting in December."

Meanwhile, World Vision Malawi, a charity organization, has been complementing the Malawian government's efforts by providing aid to the fleeing Mozambicans.

Sobhuza Sibande, the organization's humanitarian emergency affairs manager, recently told Xinhua that they are supporting the Mozambicans in three holding camps in Nsanje with various items, including food, utensils, soap, and mosquito nets.

Sibande described the support his organization is providing as a short-term measure while the Malawian government and other relevant agencies strive to find lasting support.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SOBHUZA SIBANDE, Humanitarian emergency affairs manager, World Vision Malawi
"We're trying to alleviate the challenges that they are facing now, as other plans are happening with the government and different partners for maybe issues of sustainability, but I think this is the current gap that is there. These people came, they had nothing, and then we just had to come and provide what they need as a relief support, as long-term plans are happening."

The number of fleeing Mozambicans is expected to rise as the political tension in Mozambique continues.

According to sources, a delegation from the Mozambican government is set to visit the holding camps in Malawi this week to assess the situation and map the way forward with their Malawian counterparts.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nsanje, Malawi.
(XHTV)