On 20 April 2023, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in collaboration with YONECO, conducted a visit to Katambasula and Makawa evacuation camps in the areas of Traditional Authority (T/A) Mwambo in Zomba district.
The visit was conducted in order to understand the living conditions of people who are still living in disaster evacuation camps. During the visit, the team held separate meetings with camp leaders as well as groups of men, women, and young people.
The team found that the people are living in deplorable conditions and are in need of more assistance. The camps that were visited are also accommodating expectant women, lactating mothers, people with disabilities, and people living with HIV.
“We have received food assistance from both government and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), however, due to the increased number of people who are being accommodated here, the food barely lasts a day,” explained Jacob Chilwa, a Camp Committee Chairperson whose centre has a population of about 408 people.
The team was also accompanied by officials from Zomba Disaster Risk Management office.
