Chikwawa
district in the southern region of Malawi has again been hit by floods,
while in Nsanje district people have started relocating from flood
prone areas to higher ground. In Chikwawa, heavy rains caused major
flooding between January 15 and 16, 2008, when several rivers burst
their banks. The flooding swept away crops, livestock, human dwellings,
as well as submerging houses and displacing several hundreds of people.
Three deaths related to the floods have already been confirmed. In
Nsanje, hundreds of people are still located in waterlogged marshy
areas, where there is a likelihood of the Shire River also bursting
its banks. This may cause further heavy flooding.
An
estimated 523 households are currently homeless (with their houses destroyed
and belongings washed away). The three deaths occurred in Chapananga
and Ngowe. Currently, a total of 471.7 hectares of farmland under crops,
containing maize, sorghum, cassava and sweet potato has been washed
away. More than 100 goats and 200 poultry have been lost. In Nsanje,
some 16,800 people are expected to relocate to higher ground in Nsanje
from the floods.
In
Chikwawa the displaced population has no permanent shelter, food, sanitary
facilities, utensils, safe and potable water, enough clothing or blankets.
There is a high risk of commutable and water borne diseases as a result
of the situation.
ACT
members Evangelical Lutheran Development Services (ELDS) and Church
Action in Relief and Development (CARD) both have a presence in the
affected areas. ELDS and CARD, with support from the ACT Malawi forum
members, intend to assist the affected populations with distributions
of food aid, temporary shelter, sanitary materials (plastic sheeting),
utensils, clothing, blankets, water purification tablets and seeds.
No
assistance has been given to the communities so far, except for some
tents provided by the government of Malawi.
A
detailed assessment is being conducted by ELDS to identify vulnerable
persons affected by the floods and to assess the resources needed to
support people to recover from the floods. A Rapid Response Fund (RRF)
request or an ACT appeal will be sent to ACT Coordinating Office to
facilitate a timely response.
Any
funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira,
ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).
