Re Benny Dembitzer’s letter on aid to Malawi (23 March), as someone who lives in Malawi and has seen first-hand the devastation caused by Cyclone Freddy, and other cyclones in recent years, it seems to me to be the worst time to suggest that Malawi does not need aid. While of course structural reforms are needed in Malawi to make it more resilient, Malawians are also in dire need of immediate support to rebuild their homes, roads and other infrastructure.
It seems that Mr Dembitzer is confusing and conflating the two issues. A country may need both aid and structural reform. Malawi definitely needs both. He is also incorrect that international NGOs “have not understood that trees are the only form of fuel to heat homes and cook food”. Many international and local NGOs I know of here have projects around reforestation, reducing firewood and charcoal use, and improving food security.
It seems to me that the organisations on the ground in Malawi – ironically, Grassroots Malawi seems to be UK-based – do understand the situation very well. What they, and Malawi generally, lack is adequate funding to address the issues.
Asher Jacobsberg
Blantyre, Malawi
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