69 000 TO GET KIRSH MONEY THIS WEEK

MBABANE – About 69 000 people from the Manzini and Shiselweni regions will be receiving the relief money donated by the Kirsh Foundation this week.

 The exercise started yesterday.
This was said by the Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, at Cabinet Offices yesterday during the official handover of the E45 million relief fund that was donated by billionaire Natie Kirsh.

The donation was officially handed over by George Lys, Director of Kirsh Philanthropy-Africa.
The 69 000 people were said to be from 11 000 households in both regions.
What came as good news was that beneficiaries of the relief would also include workers who had been laid off, street vendors and hawkers.

“We will continue to explore all available avenues to increase the number of people receiving food assistance. We also encourage emaSwati to help each other in this time of need,” remarked the PM.

benefit

The premier said over 300 000 people in total were going to benefit from the Natie Kirsh Foundation relief in the country.
He said the process was going to be done over a period of two-and-a-half weeks.

It is worth noting that the rest of the regions, according to the premier, will be covered in the coming weeks.
“I urge all beneficiaries of this cash transfer to use these funds carefully and for the purposes they have been given which is to buy food,” he said.

The PM went on to appreciate the Kirsh Foundation for standing with the nation and extending a helping hand to assist the country effectively respond to this pandemic.

 The premier went on to state that government was continuing with the implementation of a hybrid model for food distribution, which was also going to see food parcels being distributed.

cash

The total assistance from the Kirsh Foundation is worth E110 million and came in the form of cash, medical supplies and hiring of a chartered plane that brought doctors and medical assistance, from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the country.
Lys gave a breakdown of the funds and how they were used from April 1 to May 19.

He said the total E110 million was donated in stages as first came US$350 000 (approximately E6 181 889.35) at the end of March followed by US$5 million (E96 246 391) on the second week of April.
The rest of the donation came in the form of products, among which were ventilators that are expected to be in the country by the end of July.

He said the reason for the delay was the demand for the products as other countries also needed them.
“When Kirsh called as a liSwati willing to help his country, he asked what was needed and during our consultations with government, we were made aware that personal protective equipment (PPE), food and transportation were the critical needs,” said Lys.

supplies

He said they had, for now, spent E19 million on medical supplies including face masks, gloves and thermometers.
He went on to commend government for what he described as being ‘very professional’ in identifying those who were truly in need.

He assured government that their doors remained open for more support and further commended all who had contributed while encouraging others to do the same.

By the time of going to print, it was established through the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office that 1 894 households of about 11 364 beneficiaries got paid yesterday.

As each household is entitled to E700, a total of E1 325 800 was disbursed yesterday, according to the DPM, Themba Masuku.
The beneficiaries were from areas such as Nkwene, Khubuta and Ngudzeni constituencies.

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