The United States, through USAID, is providing more than $7 million (over MK12 billion) for the people of Malawi to respond to food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs resulting from El Niño. This additional assistance brings total U.S. humanitarian assistance to Malawi to nearly $55 million since October 2022, including vital resilience and food security programs.

This vital assistance through USAID supports UNICEF, the UN World Food Program (WFP), and NGO partners, to provide urgently needed food and agriculture assistance, and improve access to safe drinking water. With this support, UNICEF will assist more than 60,000 Malawians, primarily children, with hygiene kits, safe drinking water, and protection services. In addition, UNICEF will reach approximately 10,000 severely malnourished children with Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), one of the most effective treatments for wasting.

These funds also support WFP providing unconditional cash transfers for food assistance to about 300,000 people affected by El Niño and 54,000 refugees and asylum seekers residing at the Dzaleka refugee camp, as well as help transport and deliver 10,000 metric tons of maize grain, donated to WFP by the Government of Malawi. USAID support to CARE International will assist about 26,000 people with cash-for-assets, agriculture recovery, and vital nutrition messaging.

Before making the announcement, USAID Mission Director Pamela Fessended also toured communities in southern Malawi heavily impacted by El Nino and are now constructing various structures and planting trees in the catchment area to restore their degraded area. They are also involved in Village Savings and Loans (VSL) groups which allow them to save and lend each other money for micro business and pay for other household needs.

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USAID Malawi Senior Technical Advisor Kumbukani Chirwa, Country Director and Representative for the World Food Programme, Mr. Paul Turnbull, USAID Mission Director Pamela Fessenden and Department Of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA)'s Deputy Director Responsible for disaster preparedness Fredson Chikuse pose for a photo after the announcement. Photo: Oris Chimenya/USAID
USAID Malawi Senior Technical Advisor Kumbukani Chirwa, Country Director and Representative for the World Food Programme, Mr. Paul Turnbull, USAID Mission Director Pamela Fessenden and Department Of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA)'s Deputy Director Responsible for disaster preparedness Fredson Chikuse pose for a photo after the announcement.
Photo: Oris Chimenya/USAID
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Department Of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA)'s Deputy Director Responsible for disaster preparedness Fredson Chikuse, USAID Mission Director Pamela Fessenden, and Country Director and Representative for the World Food Programme make the announcement in Blantyre, Malawi. Photo: Oris Chimenya/USAID
Department Of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA)'s Deputy Director Responsible for disaster preparedness Fredson Chikuse, USAID Mission Director Pamela Fessenden, and Country Director and Representative for the World Food Programme make the announcement in Blantyre, Malawi.
Photo: Oris Chimenya/USAID
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USAID Mission Director Pamela Fessenden is interviewed by the members of media outlets at the announcement media event. Photo: Oris Chimenya/USAID
USAID Mission Director Pamela Fessenden is interviewed by the members of media outlets at the announcement media event.
Photo: Oris Chimenya/USAID
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USAID Mission Director Pamela Fessenden interacts with community members after a site visit to southern Malawi where vulnerable communities heavily felt the impacts of El Nino and are now engaged in resilience building activities which restore their degraded environment. Photo: Oris Chimenya/USAID
USAID Mission Director Pamela Fessenden interacts with community members after a site visit to southern Malawi where vulnerable communities heavily felt the impacts of El Nino and are now engaged in resilience building activities which restore their degraded environment.
Photo: Oris Chimenya/USAID
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USAID Mission Director Pamela Fessenden and Country Director and Representative for the World Food Programme Paul Turnbull participate in a site visit where they to viewed USAID-supported watershed management activities that contribute to resilient building for vulnerable communities through that restore degraded environment, conserve water, and reduce soil erosion. Photo: Oris Chimenya/USAID
USAID Mission Director Pamela Fessenden and Country Director and Representative for the World Food Programme Paul Turnbull participate in a site visit where they to viewed USAID-supported watershed management activities that contribute to resilient building for vulnerable communities through that restore degraded environment, conserve water, and reduce soil erosion.
Photo: Oris Chimenya/USAID
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