Support to help those facing food shortages.
Two charities are to receive funding to help people in Malawi
facing food shortages as a result of prolonged dry spells and
widespread flooding.
Tearfund and SCIAF will receive £400,000, which will be split
equally between them and delivered through Scotland's
Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF) to help address the
humanitarian crisis which has seen widespread crop failure and
livestock losses as a result of the climate-shocks.
The funding will allow the two charities to distribute cash to
people in the affected areas to meet their immediate food and
basic needs. It will also allow the charities to deliver training
on cholera prevention, safe water usage and hygiene practices to
combat the risk of cholera.
External Affairs Secretary said: “The widespread
flooding has killed and displaced many people and exacerbated
ongoing food insecurity for millions of people.
“This funding will help support people and businesses directly at
a local level - where it is needed - by empowering them to buy
food and supplies.”
SCIAF's Chief Executive Lorraine Currie said:
“We secured this funding to support Malawian families suffering
from the combined challenges of food insecurity, malnutrition,
and climate-related shocks. Since the onset of rains in
November 2025, the country has been hit by floods, leading to
deaths, displaced families, and damage to crops. A number of
households are experiencing malnutrition, particularly children
under five, and pregnant and breastfeeding mums. These people
urgently require immediate, life-saving assistance to prevent a
catastrophe.
“This funding comes at a time when many governments are turning
their backs on people suffering from hunger, poverty and
injustice around the world. Scotland continues to be a good
global citizen. The funding means that we can reach out to over
3100 families with cash grants and much needed high-calorific
food such as fortified corn soy blend. It's literally a
life-saver.”
Vincent Moyo, Tearfund Country Director for Malawi, said:
“Communities in Nkhotakota are facing an extremely difficult and
uncertain period. Repeated flooding and prolonged dry spells have
destroyed crops, reduced incomes, and pushed many families to the
brink as the lean season intensifies. With very limited
assistance currently reaching these areas, households are being
forced to skip meals and sell the little household assets they
have just to survive.
“This project will provide a vital lifeline at a critical moment
– enabling families to meet their most urgent food and basic
needs with dignity, while also reducing the risk of cholera
through targeted health and hygiene awareness. It will help
stabilise households' livelihoods now and prevent an even deeper
crisis in the months ahead.”
