The Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice (CCJP) of Dedza Diocese donated relief items worth 12 million kwacha to survivors of tropical storm Ana in traditional authority (T/A) Champiti in Ntcheu district.

The support had come with financial assistance from MISERIOR, the German Catholic Bishops Organization for Development Cooperation, three months after the disaster hit the area leaving many families destitute.

Father Paul Kunkumbira, Director for Social Development for the diocese said the Catholic Church believes in rendering a hand to vulnerable communities by serving such people while psychologically affected owing to disasters besides other social problems is difficult.

“The church believes that a human person is both soul and body. However, it is difficult to preach to somebody who is physically affected hence supporting the communities to build their resilience,” he said.

Bertha Chiwaya, beneficiary from Nsamanyada village said due to the disaster she is living a miserable life together with her four children.

“The aftermath of the disaster left many of us with nothing to rely upon. We lost our homes and even food,” she said, adding that the support was timely.

She added that the support that she has received is timely since some of the burden she was facing has been lifted in her life.

The items that the CCJP has supported the victims with include; cooking oil, sweet potatoes vines, bags of maize and cassava tubers.