Speaking during a symbolic presentation in Lilongwe, the refugee community’s representative, Leopold Bantubino Bizimungu, said the gesture was in response to challenges faced by the affected communities.
He said many people have been displaced from their homes and lost property, urging other well-wishers to follow suit.
“We were concerned about how these people were affected by the floods, so we started fundraising, despite having our own challenges,” said Bizimungu.
United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) representative Henock Ochalla applauded the refugees for their gesture.
Ochalla said Malawi has been home to thousands of refugees for a long time despite not sharing borders with some of the countries.
He added that the move demonstrated that refugees can be a key partner in development and national building.
“Refugees are not only receivers of aid. If given proper recognition they can work and contribute to the development of a country,” said Ochalla.
Acknowledging the donation on behalf of government, Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs, Hudson Mankhwala, described the donation as timely.
“To us, this is a timely donation as you are aware that the country has been hit hard by cyclone not just once and that the condition is very bad in the Lower Shire,” said Makhwala.
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