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President Murmu hails friendly ties between India and Malawi

Malawi’s parliamentary delegation was led by the country’s National Assembly Speaker Catherine Gotani Hara…reports Asian Lite News

A parliamentary delegation from Malawi called on President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi on Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Welcoming the delegation to the national capital, the President said that both India and Malawi share cordial relations and there is immense scope for adding greater depth to the ties between the two nations. “Welcoming the delegation, the President said that India and Malawi share long-standing cordial and friendly relations, and there is immense scope for adding greater depth to our ties,” the MEA release said.

“She stated that our common faith in democratic values and pluralism makes India and Malawi natural partners,” it added.

Malawi’s parliamentary delegation was led by the country’s National Assembly Speaker Catherine Gotani Hara.

During the talks with the delegation, President Murmu noted that India has been one of the largest trade and private investment partners of Malawi, and is also a preferred destination of Malawian nationals for health and education.

“She was happy to note that India has a strong development partnership programme with Malawi and a number of projects have been implemented in Malawi in the areas such as infrastructure, health, water resources, capacity building and education,” the MEA release said.

Earlier on Monday, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla welcomed the Malawi delegation in Parliament and said such bilateral parliamentary dialogue will strengthen India’s multifaceted cooperation with the African country.

Observing that India and Malawi enjoy cordial and friendly relations, Birla recalled that bilateral relations between the two countries have taken a new direction under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Malawi President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera.

A Parliamentary delegation from Malawi led by the Speaker of Malawi National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Catherine Gotani Hara called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President stated that our common faith in democratic values and pluralism makes India and Malawi… pic.twitter.com/Lv2oZdqIVs
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) July 31, 2023

Lauding the peaceful transfer of power following the June 2020 presidential elections in Malawi, the Speaker hoped that it would strengthen constitutional bodies within Malawi.

The Speaker also noted that the two Parliaments represent the expectations and aspirations of their citizens, and mentioned that realizing the expectations of a new India, India has constructed a new building of its Parliament.

Assuring India’s support for Malawi’s economic development, Birla stressed the need to encourage trade in agricultural products, especially cotton products. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Cyclone Freddy affects over 500,000 in Malawi

Cyclone Freddy affects over 500,000 in Malawi

Cholera is also spreading in Mozambique. But, there are not enough water disinfection supplies to support containment activities to control the outbreak, OCHA said…reports Asian Lite News

Malawi authorities assessing the rising devastation of cyclone Freddy report more than 500,000 people affected, including at least 326 people killed, UN Humanitarians said.

The government reports 442 people rescued during search and rescue operations on Thursday alone, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said. More than 180,000 people are homeless.

The government-led relief efforts expand as flood waters recede, and the focus is on reaching displaced people, the office said.

“However, some areas remain cut off due to the extremely challenging conditions on the ground,” OCHA said. “Aid workers are mobilising air transport and boats to transport supplies and search and rescue efforts in locations that can’t be accessed by road.”

The office said that humanitarian partners are concerned about the risk of cholera spreading in flood-affected areas, especially in crowded displacement sites.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and its partners are working to clean latrines in schools serving as shelters in Blantyre and will also install water storage bladders to provide safe drinking water.

The OCHA said that in Chikwawa, one of the districts with the highest number of displaced people, the World Food Programme and its partners distributed super cereal, a blend of corn and soy, to all displacement sites. Similar efforts are underway in other districts.

In neighboring Mozambique, the number of people affected by Freddy’s second landfall also continues to rise, reaching 340,000, UN humanitarians said. With the cumulative impact of floods and two landfalls of Freddy, more than 510,000 people were affected across Mozambique.

Cholera is also spreading in Mozambique. But, there are not enough water disinfection supplies to support containment activities to control the outbreak, OCHA said.

The UN team has a presence in each of the cyclone-affected provinces in Mozambique, the office said. “We are working closely with the authorities to provide aid to over 49,000 people displaced and to access areas isolated by floods.”

The office said that humanitarian partners are finalising a flash appeal – as an addition to this year’s overall appeal – to address the most urgent humanitarian needs resulting from the convergence of Freddy, floods and cholera.

On Thursday, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund released $10-million to help address some relief gaps. Still, OCHA said more funds are urgently needed.

ALSO READ-Tropical Cyclone Freddy hammers Mozambique for second time