Early rains damage 187 houses in Kasungu

**By Nelson Gonjani: **

Over 100 houses have been damaged in Traditional Authority (TA) Chaima, Kasungu District, following heavy rains that fell last Thursday.

The district’s principal disaster risk management officer, Shepard Jere, said an assessment was underway to establish the exact number of households affected by the disaster.

“We cannot confirm the exact number of damaged houses yet, as we are still conducting an assessment to establish the actual figure.

“However, the incident has, indeed, occurred in the area,” he said.

Jere said findings of the assessment would be shared with stakeholders to facilitate interventions.

Meanwhile, Chaima has appealed to stakeholders to assist the affected households with food and other essential items.

“These households are in dire need of support, particularly food, as the little they had has been destroyed by the heavy rains,” he said.

Jere added that, apart from food, the affected households needed clothes and other essential items.

Chikande Under-Five Clinic has also been affected by the rains.

“Chikande Under- Five Clinic, which serves Nkhoma and Yohane villages, has also been affected by the heavy rains. As we speak, the health surveillance assistant (HSA) is stranded following the destruction of his house,” he said.