SCIAF's WEE BOX appeal aims to help disaster-hit Malawi

Home destroyed by Storm Ana

The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund is asking the Scottish public to give generously to its annual WEE BOX appeal.

The charity has had an overwhelming response to its Ukraine appeal. In less than two weeks, over £250,000 has been donated from the general public, with another £500,000 donated from the Scottish Government.

Now the charity is calling for donations to help people around the world who face conflict, climate change and disaster.

SCIAF's WEE BOX appeal focusses on Malawi this year, where the climate crisis is causing devastating hunger and the loss of livelihoods for thousands.

Alistair Dutton, Chief Executive of SCIAF, said: "We have had enormous support for the people of Ukraine in the last two weeks and rightly so. SCIAF is responding immediately through the international Catholic aid network, Caritas, and donations are going directly to local humanitarians on the ground.

"We are united in solidarity with those who are suffering in the midst of this brutal war. But hundreds of millions of the world's poorest people cannot feed their families and face extreme hunger every day. As we watch the horror unfolding in the Ukraine, please remember other people throughout the world who face poverty and injustice, and give generously with love and hope. SCIAF's WEE BOX appeal funds our long-term work to help people escape extreme poverty. Please give generously.

"Our friends and colleagues in Malawi are facing the harsh reality of extreme cyclones. The recent tropical storm caused widespread devastation and flooding, washing away crops, fields, roads, bridges and infrastructure. People have lost their homes, their livelihoods and are now even more hungry, with no prospect of the harvest that should have been reaped next month. We hold the families and loved-ones of those who have died in our thoughts as we pray for the repose of the souls of those they have lost.

"By standing together during these tough times, we can bring strength to those in crisis whenever and wherever it's needed. Please give to SCIAF's WEE BOX generously."

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "SCIAF's well-known Wee Box appeal has already helped millions of people across the world, and its life-changing work continues every single year. This year, funds raised will go towards supporting the world's poorest communities - who are often on the frontline of the climate crisis - to adapt, recover and rebuild from the devastation caused by climate change.

"SCIAF's work to offer practical assistance to communities recovering from war, natural disaster and climate change is vital. I'm delighted to support the launch of this year's Wee Box campaign, and show solidary with those across the world already suffering from the impacts of the climate crisis."

A tropical storm hit Malawi at the end of January, with a national disaster declared shortly after. The storm has left over 150,000 people displaced from their homes and there is widespread damage to crops.

SCIAF is sad to report that 11 people who were involved in SCIAF's Climate Change Programme Malawi have died as a result of the storm. The CCPM was run with funding from the Scottish Government.

Donations from the WEE BOX appeal will go towards SCIAF's life-changing work. SCIAF supports people in need around the world, providing urgent food and shelter, while also helping communities make changes for the future so they can break the cycle of poverty, including adaptations to the climate crisis.

Chimwemwe Sakunda Ndhlovu is one of SCIAF's partners in Malawi who helps deliver the charity's projects. She was in Glasgow for the COP26 conference in November where she shared the impact of climate change to world leaders.

As part of her work in Malawi, Chimwemwe has been assessing the damage of the storm. She shared with SCIAF: "We have had widespread, devastating damage from the storm. In some villages, most homes have been wiped out, with food, livestock and people's personal belongings now gone with the floods.

"Most people in Malawi are farmers and earn their living growing crops so the impact is dire for them. They've lost everything and will need to start again. "On top of the impact of the storm, we are also now facing heavy rains. This is causing further flooding. It will be a long time to recover from this. We want to support people as much as possible to get them back on their feet after losing so much."

Julius Thom spoke to SCIAF about his family's experience of the climate crisis in Malawi. He lives in Southern Malawi where extreme weather is affecting their ability to grow food:

"When you are growing food for your family every person lives on optimism. But now, my household - and many others in the village - are facing hunger.

"Climate change has caused of lot of problems in my life compared to the past. My focus is on my children and providing a future for them."

Donate to SCIAF's WEE BOX Appeal by visiting: www.sciaf.org.uk/weebox or calling 0141 354 5555.

SCIAF is also encouraging people to 'Act in Hope' this Lent and take steps here in Scotland to tackle the climate emergency.
Alongside 'donating in hope', the Acts of Hope campaign is focusing on three particular Acts of Hope:

Eat in Hope
Travel in Hope
Reuse in Hope

You can learn more here: www.sciaf.org.uk/stories/731-act-in-hope