Neno and Zomba based organisations working in disaster management who are visiting Nsanje and Chikwawa say there is need for adherence to guidelines, policies and protocols set by the government, Non-governmental organizations and donors when responding to disasters in the country.
Beyond Our Hearts Foundation Executive Director Russel Msiska said today in Nsanje that NGO’s that are being supported by Save the Children under the Localisation Drive must abide by donor principles that put the interests of the survivors first.
Msiska said that vulnerable groups of people like refugees, the internally displaced, women and children face challenges like sexual abuse hence a need to strengthen policies and devise better reporting mechanisms.
Deputy director for a Zomba based NGO, Youth for Development and Productivity (YODEP) Doshani Kumwenda emphasized that other disaster prone districts tap knowledge from Nsanje on how it manages disasters to build resilience.
Currently, Nsanje district is accommodating Mozambique refugees crisis where over 4,000 people are refusing to return to their country following election violence. The district has already decommissioned other camps.
