MaDRA brings hope to hunger hit families in Ntcheu
Share this:
As Malawi endures a deepening food security crisis during the 2025/26 Lean Season, humanitarian support continues to provide a lifeline to thousands of vulnerable households. With over four million Malawians facing acute food insecurity, relief interventions remain critical in preventing hunger and loss of livelihoods.
On Sunday, Muslim Disaster Relief Aid (MaDRA) extended life saving assistance to vulnerable families in Ntcheu District, responding to His Excellency the President’s appeal for collective national action.
MaDRA is a coordinated platform uniting Muslim charitable organisations and community institutions to complement government disaster response efforts.
Through unity and public generosity, the initiative set a fundraising target of MWK 1 billion, with close to MWK 600 million already raised in cash and in kind support.
Since the launch of the appeal in December 2025, MaDRA partners have distributed a total of 7,000 Food and Seed Relief Packs across high risk districts. The distributions covered Thyolo, Mulanje, Machinga, Chikwawa in the Lower Shire and most recently Balaka and Ntcheu, where 7,000 families benefited.
Each household received a family relief package comprising 20 kilograms of maize flour, five packets of soya pieces, one kilogram of beans, one kilogram of salt, and MWK 5,000 in cash. The assistance was designed to help families meet immediate food needs while offering flexibility to address other urgent household expenses.
Based on an average household size of four people, the intervention has so far reached an estimated 28,000 individuals nationwide, offering temporary relief at the peak of the lean season when food access is most constrained.
All relief distributions were conducted in close collaboration with traditional authorities, local councils and the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) to ensure transparency, accountability and proper targeting of the most vulnerable households.
MaDRA Director of Communications and Public Relations, Ibrahim Omar Mataya, said the initiative was motivated by the urgent need to respond to widespread hunger affecting communities across the country.
He noted that the organisation remains committed to supporting government efforts to protect vulnerable populations.
Speaking during the distribution, Member of Parliament for Ntcheu Central Constituency and Deputy Minister of Homeland security Normal Chisale, cautioned beneficiaries against selling the donated food.
He urged families to use the assistance to improve household food security and safeguard children and the elderly.
Group Village Headman Siyalunzu described the situation in his area as dire, saying many households were struggling to secure daily meals.
He welcomed MaDRA’s intervention, noting that the assistance would help reduce hunger and suffering among families in the community.The traditional leader further appealed to other humanitarian organisations and well wishers to support Ntcheu with food assistance, stressing that the need remains high.
MaDRA brings together organisations including Al-Mahmood, An-Nasihah Trust, Ashraful Aid, Bilal Trust, Blantyre Muslim Youth, Drop of Compassion, Limbe Muslim Jamaat, Muslim Youth United and others.
About the Author
Discover more from Sele Media Malawi
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
