MALAWI
April 2008 Update:
Malawi
Located in southeastern Africa, Malawi is home to more than one million orphans, nearly three-fourths of whom lost their parents due to AIDS. The life expectancy for men is just over 43 and 42 for women. The country faces repeated famines due to droughts, government corruption and diseases, among the other factors. Seeing the great need, Feeding The Nations blessed Malawi with $400,000 worth of food and multi-vitamins. The canned vegetables and vitamin-fortified rice and vegetable meals were distributed to approximately 8,500 people, while doctors and medical clinics received many of the vitamins to use with their patients.
David Morrison of Iris Africa helped distribute the supplies and he wrote to give us this first-hand account:
Greetings to you all!
Thank you very much for your ongoing support of the ministry of Iris Africa here in 
Malawi. We are so grateful for the two containers you recently sent to us. The process to clear the containers at this end went smoothly as well as coordinating the last journey by truck from Blantyre to Bangula.
Our Iris children who helped offload the trucks were pleased to find the cardboard notes and pictures written by the volunteers who packed the containers. It was a nice personal touch and showed how much people really care for the poor.
The rice-soy casserole meals are excellent and enjoyed by all. We see this first hand from the fifty orphan children in our care here at the Iris Ministry base. We have kept
several boxes for them to enjoy over the next few months.
We have distributed most of the rice meals and canned vegetables among the 1,900 families (approximately 8,500 people) who are registered in our monthly food distribution program. They are the most vulnerable in the society who without the assistance of Iris Africa would be left to face their difficult circumstances alone. There is no social welfare office to provide them support nor any relatives or neighbors willing to help. In this culture grandmothers are overwhelmed with the burden to care for their orphaned grandchildren - there are so many, and they make up the majority on our
recipient list. We also help the elderly, crippled, blind and the chronically sick.
Earlier this week, we heard of an emergency in the village of Tengani, located 35 km south of us. An arsonist had randomly set four homes on fire as he stormed through the village. People in that village are now frightened as the police search for the perpetrator. On Monday, we brought these fire victims relief and encouragement.
The families had lost everything, including food supplies, dishes, clothes, blankets and sleeping mats, as their grass houses were quickly engulfed in flames. We were also able to take the last few blankets from the medical container you sent last year.
We were so grateful to receive the huge donation of vitamins and minerals. Since they arrived in bulk, we distributed them to local hospitals for safe distribution.
Dr. Kachika from Tikondane clinic in Bangula was thrilled to be able to distribute freely to patients at his clinic. Kalemba Catholic medical clinic in Bangula also took some. We were also able to send some to CURE orthopedic children's hospital in
Blantyre. They were especially interested in the calcium. Nsanje district government hospital in southern Malawi was also a recipient. Our 50 orphan children at the Iris base in Bangula also benefit from daily vitamins. Several pastors throughout the region are distributing throughout nearby villages.
There are still many barrels yet to distribute. We're keeping a good supply here in order to assist our children and staff.
Again, I thank you for helping us help the poor.
God bless,
David Morrison.
DECEMBER 2007 UPDATE:
Feeding The Nations provided 87,031 pounds of fortified rice/soy vegetable meals, assorted canned vegetables and with assorted vitamins and minerals valued at $400,000 to Partners in Harvest-Iris Africa sent to bless the hungry and hurting of Malawi.