Women and children returning home after fleeing xenophobic violence in South Africa have received a boost after the Saulos Klaus Chilima (SKC) Foundation donated relief items to ease the difficult transition.
The Foundation has donated relief items worth K10 million to support Malawians displaced by xenophobic attacks in South Africa, with the assistance specifically targeting women and children.
The donation, handed over earlier this week in Lilongwe, includes 200 relief packs containing blankets, water pails, kitchen utensils and other essential household supplies for families returning home.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, SKC Foundation Board Trustee David Mkwambisi said the Foundation was created to uphold the values of the late Vice President Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, including compassion responsibility, discipline and service to others.
He said women and children have been among the hardest hit by the crisis and deserve urgent support as they rebuild their lives.
“This donation is not merely a handover of items. It is a statement of solidarity. It is a message that these women are not alone. It is a reminder that when Malawians face hardship, we must respond with compassion, dignity and practical support,” said Mkwambisi.
He also called on companies, development partners and other organisations to support government’s repatriation programme, saying the humanitarian needs remain enormous.
Receiving the donation on behalf of government, Director of Resilience and Recovery at the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), Fyawupi Mwafongo, described the contribution as timely and important.
Mwafongo said government still requires about K24 billion to complete the repatriation of Malawians stranded in South Africa, adding that donations from organisations help reduce the pressure on public resources.
“We still require about K24 billion to successfully repatriate all Malawians stranded in South Africa. Contributions such as this go a long way in easing the burden and supporting those in greatest need. We are sincerely grateful to the SKC Foundation for this generous gesture,” he said.
Government is continuing to coordinate the return of Malawians affected by the xenophobic attacks, with women and children identified as the most vulnerable.
Some women reportedly gave birth while travelling back to Malawi, highlighting the harsh conditions many families endured and the need for continued humanitarian assistance.
