Government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) has started airlifting relief maize to Nabwalya Chiefdom in Mpika District in Muchinga Province.
Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary, Henry Mukungule who flagged off the distribution told the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in an interview that Government is delivering 400 by 50Kg bags of relief maize to Nabwalya.
Mr Mukungule said that the roads to Nabwalya are impassable due to the rains and the only way to take relief maize to the area is by air.
“Right now, you cannot access Nabwalya by road, the roads are impassable because of the rains, this is why we are airlifting the relief maize to the people who have been hit by hunger,” said Mr Mukungule.
He added that the people of Nabwalya made a request through his office that there was need to take relief food because their food had run out.
The Permanent Secretary said that due to human animal conflict in the area, the Government saw fit to take relief food to Nabwalya because the animals are eating their crops.
“We hope to deliver 400 by 50 kg bags of relief maize to Nabwalya because they have been in dire need of food,” said Mr Mukungule.
And Zambia Airforce (ZAF) Officer Commanding Flying Wing, Zechariah Mbewe said ZAF has a duty when not at war, to engage in other military operations such as natural disasters.
“We have a duty, when not at war, to engage in military operations other than war, such as natural disasters in the country,” said Lieutenant Mbewe.
Lieutenant Mbewe further said that ZAF has a duty to attend to the needs of Government, hence the operation to deliver relief food.
He added that the Air force will ensure that the operation is executed accordingly.
Meanwhile, Samson Seleti, a resident has thanked Government for coming to the aid of the community by delivering relief food.
Mr Seleti said that they live in a Game Management Area saying whenever they plant crops, the animals have been eating their crops.
“Thank you so much for coming to our aid, this area has been hit with hunger and the relief will help us a lot,” said Mr Seleti.