THE Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) fears that the gains recorded in the fight against early marriages may be lost if flood victims are left without help.
Speaking at NGOCC secretariat in Lusaka to flag-off donations towards flood victims from Luapula and Northern Provinces, NGOCC board chairperson Mary Mulenga said it was to help citizens who had become homeless due to floods.
Mulenga said NGOOC was making a contribution towards the affected people in two selected provinces
During the last rainy season, some parts of the country had been adversely affected by the heavy rains which had led to flooding and consequently displacing a number of people.
According to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), approximately 700, 000 people in a total of 28 districts have been affected by the floods and are in need of relief support.
The affected provinces being North-Western, Copperbelt, Northern, Luapula, Muchinga, Eastern, Western and some of parts Lusaka.
“While recognizing the efforts being made by government to help the victims, it is important for all of us to lend a helping hand to our fellow citizens who have become homeless and are facing numerous challenges as a result of the floods. We are cognizant of the huge pressure on our national treasury occasioned especially by the advent of covid-19 pandemic,” Mulenga said.
“It is against this background that NGOCC is making this “small” contribution to the flood victims in Luapula and Northern Provinces. We say small because we know it is indeed a drop in the ocean, given the needs of the people affected.”
Mulenga said the NGOCC was implementing ending child marriage project in the two provinces.
“Specifically about 50 households in chief Mwenda’s area, one of the project areas, have been affected by the floods. Therefore, if nothing is done to help for instance the victims in this area, the gains recorded so far in withdrawing young girls from marriages may be lost,” said Mulenga.
“As a contribution to ameliorate the suffering of these victims in Luapula and Northern Provinces, NGOCC is making the following donation; 25 boxes of sanitary towels (260 packets), Bales of second hand clothes and shoes, 3 hand washing stations with liquid soap and sanitizers, 35 blankets.”
