20091221
africanews

At least three more people died in earthquakes that have hit the northern lakeshore district of Karonga, Malawi- bringing the figure to four. The fourth major earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale hit the district over the weekend, injuring about 256 people who were rushed to hospital with different degrees of injuries.
a town in Malawi
About 2,000 more people will now require more disaster aid as they join the 4,000 plus already affected on the onset of the quakes that started some weeks ago.

Government has since pledged and started to send in more aid and have opened a displaced camp where water and sanitation may be another health concern.

Meanwhile, the Camp Alive Opens Shows (CAOS) made of Lilongwe based concerned individuals, plans to hold an aftermath live entertainment (ALE) show to cheer the affected on 25th December at the district's main community ground.

"We are going to also donate Likuni Phala and other relief items pooled together from well-wishers. Our aim is to ensure that the affected are entertained over the festive season to bring about hope, compassion for the future," explained Ken Mwanyongo, CAOS leader.

Lying in the Great Rift Valley, Malawi is said to be prone to earthquakes and government has proposed to reallocate displaced people to other less prone areas. A statement said chiefs in the area will be consulted on the issue.

The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), meanwhile asked government to declare the district a disaster area so that international aid can start to pour in. Local organisations and individual well-wishers have since joined the government's Department of Disaster Preparedness and Relief in donating relief items such as cooking flour, blankets, dry relish and other assorted items.

The Malawi Defence Force (MDF) was the first to provide tents to temporarily house the victims.