The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a total US$ 4.1 million (over 4 billion Kwacha) from Government of Iceland and Norway to support thousands of people facing severe hunger in Malawi.
According to a Statement released by WFP, the joint contribution comprising of US$3.6 million from Norway and US$500,000 from Iceland will provide critical humanitarian assistance to 270,000 people through cash-based transfers in the districts of Balaka and Chikwawa where smallholder farmers have been heavily affected by climate shocks and rising food prices.
“We commend the Governments of Norway and Iceland for their strong commitment to ensuring the food security of the most vulnerable during this exceptionally difficult lean season,” said Paul Turnbull, WFP’s Country Director in Malawi.
3.8 million people in 27 districts are estimated to be food insecure during the 2022/23 lean season, specifically, from November 2022 to March 2023, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report – over 130 percent increase compared to the same time last year.
