By Brenda Nkosi
About 26,000 households across the country have benefited from food packages distributed by Faizan Global Relief Foundation (FGRF) as part of Ramadan support.
Speaking on Sunday during the distribution of 2,000 packages in Mulanje West Constituency, Member of Parliament for the area and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. George Chaponda, said the food assistance demonstrates God’s love for His people.
“It is good to receive this food aid. It shows that as people seek God through fasting, He remains close to them and continues to provide for them,” he said.
Chaponda said the food aid was timely as some households struggle to find food to eat when breaking their fast, which can discourage some Muslims from observing the religious practice.
“This support will help Muslim families nourish their bodies and have the strength to continue fasting the following day. We ask you to pray for the country’s economy and wellbeing,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Doreen Thumbuliwa from Kambala Village in Traditional Authority Nthilamanja, said she was grateful to receive the package of assorted food items.
“Nowadays it is difficult for one to afford maize flour, sugar and cooking oil at the same time. This assistance will help us greatly and reduce the financial pressure we face in feeding our households. We thank the organisation for blessing us,” she said.
Director of Public Relations and Projects at FGRF, Ibrahim Omar Mataya, said the initiative started in February in honour of the holy month of Ramadan, which ends on Friday.
“Almost K1 billion has been pumped into this programme. So far, we have reached about 26,000 households and we expect to assist up to 30,000 households by the end of Ramadan this week,” said Mataya.
“In our Islamic faith, we believe in sharing. It is our duty to look out for our neighbours, which is why we are distributing these food packages,” he added.
Mataya said the organisation has so far distributed these Ramadan food packages in Mangochi, Nsanje, Thyolo, Salima, Blantyre, Chiradzulo, Mulanje and
Zomba.
The food packages comprises of a 10 kilogram maize flour, soya pieces, sugar, cooking oil and salt.
