Scottish charity mobilises support for Malawi’s drought response

Christian Aid has embarked on a campaign appealing to its supporters in Scotland to help Malawi respond to a devastating drought that has left over 6.5 million people in need of food aid.

Head of Christian Aid Scotland, Sally Foster-Fulton, launched the appeal saying in the absence of a major humanitarian response, Malawi will be held back since the development progress Malawians have made could be wiped out.

“That’s why any short-term relief work must link to wider, lon

g-term efforts to help Malawi’s communities to withstand disasters that exacerbate poverty,” Foster-Fulton said. “Only then will the country stand a chance of breaking its cycle of food insecurity, once and for all.”

The government of Scotland has since backed the appeal for help and has pledged to match the first £70,000 that is donated from the International Development Fund.

Scotland’s Minister for International Development and Europe Alasdair Allan expressed the Scottish Government’s commitment to helping Malawians in this challenging time.

He said: “I would encourage people the length and breadth of Scotland to consider supporting fundraising efforts to assist Malawi at this critical time.”

Scotland has a long-standing friendship with Malawi, which dates back to more than 150 years ago when Scottish missionary Dr David Livingstone reached the southern African country.

The University of Edinburgh estimates that today more than 94,000 Scots and 145,000 Malawians are involved in civic partnerships together each year.

Malawi is facing a food crisis after prolonged dry spells, erratic rainfall, and devastating floods destroyed crops and food reserves, leading to high prices of food.