The African Union (AU) has today given $100, 000 (about K73 million) to the government of Malawi for disaster recovery response.

AU Rapporteur of Permanent Representation Sub-Committee (PRC) for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons Lamine Baali made the announcement at Capital Hill in Lilongwe at the end of the visit to Malawi to see the impact of Cyclone Idai.

The delegation visited Mulanje and Nsanje where Cyclone Idai affected hundreds of households who are in need of urgent assistance of food and non-food items.

Baali said the Malawi government will have to decide the urgent areas of need where the financial donation will be spent on.

Deputy director for response and recovery at the Department of Disaster Management Affairs Dyce Nkhoma said the donation reduces the disaster response financial budget needs that is pegged at $45 million saying more assistance is still required.