Carrickfergus collection to aid Cyclone Adai-hit communities

Concern Worldwide is holding a collection in Carrickfergus to help communities in southern Africa affected by Cyclone Idai.
Roberta Cooney of Concern.Roberta Cooney of Concern.
Roberta Cooney of Concern.

It will be held on Saturday, April 6, at Eurospar, Victoria Road.

Thanking the outlet for its support, Roberta Gordon, of the charity’s Carrick support group, said: “The staff are always so supportive and their customers so generous. We really appreciate it.”

The effects of Cyclone Ida have been catastrophic in Malawi, according to Concern. Heavy rains and floods washed away crops just one month away from harvest in southern Malawi. In Nsanje, floods affected over 13,000 hectares of crops and 16,000 livestock belonging to approximately 38,000 farming families.

People here are desperate, they have lost everything they have and it is very, very difficult for them to survive,” said Yousaf Jogezai, Concern’s Country director in Malawi.

“They have had just so many shocks, with last year’s drought, flooding last January and now this latest flood, they have lost everything. In many cases their houses have been washed away or they have collapsed, their livestock is gone and this year’s harvest had been destroyed.”

“We immediately need relief support and shortly after that we will need agricultural support to help people get back on their feet as quickly as possible.”