Christian charity organisation Stephanos Foundation, has called on government to implement a thorough disaster assessment on affected people in Lower Shire districts of Chikwawa and Nsanje.

The foundation’s programs manager, Thea Mwaya, says that such assessments will alert the supporters so that funds for disaster relief can be raised in time and accurate support can be provided.

Last November, the Vice-President and Commissioner for Disasters, Wilson Moleni, revealed that there is a Disaster Bill that will be discussed in the next sitting of Parliament.

When passed, the Bill will see disaster victims being relocated from disaster prone areas. Currently, the department has to warn settlers in such areas to relocate, but the Bill will enforce the relocation to safer grounds. “We do not have the powers by law to remove them, but if passed, the bill will enable us to move them to safe grounds using necessary force” said Moleni.