Floods and heavy rains in Malawi
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With one third of the country affected by heavy rain and floods Malawian president Peter Mutharika has declared the country in a state of disaster. DanChurchAid has responded to the call for assistance
Lately, the rains have been heavy and one third of Malawi has been affected with flood. So far about 70,000 people have been displaced and are homeless in the country. 15 districts, mainly in the South and North have been affected.
More than 50 people are confirmed dead. More bodies are not yet discovered from some villages that have completely been washed away in Nsanje.
More people are still being evacuated to safer places by the Malawi Defense Force using boats and helicopters despite facing challenges due to bad weather especially in Nsanje and Chikwawa.
The floods have not been confined only to Malawi. Nsanje District in the South is also facing a substantial influx of Mozambicans who have also been displaced and find Malawian side easier accessible than their own country's main land.
The rain continues
According to the Meteorological Department of Malawi the rains will continue for some time raising fears for more flooding.
And flooding still continues in Nsanje and Chikwawa. Some children and their mothers have been sleeping in trees or on roof tops for a couple of days awaiting rescuers or water levels to subsidise.
Malawi Police has started setting up Child Protection and Victim Support services in the camps.
Health Services in Camps have started being coordinated by the Ministry of Health. Fears of waterborne diseases such as cholera are greatest in the camps due to congestion.
DCA allocate funds for the emergency
DanChurchAid has just transferred 490,000 Danish Kroner to help in Nsanje. The funds will cover costs for evacuation, medicine, food etc. CARD, a local DCA-partner, is already on the ground helping with evacuation. DanChurchAid has also transferred USD 60,000 to the DCA-partner SOLDEV to help with relief items in Karonga in the Northern part of Malawi.
By Francis Botha and Peter Høvring