More rains, renewed problems

Heavy rains have continued throughout Malawi, worsening the flooding in the south of the country and threatening new areas that were initially unaffected, an OCHA situation report released on Tuesday said. Some 335,000 people have been affected by the floods that have so far inundated 13 out of Malawi’s 27 districts, killing 14 people and causing widespread damage. In Nsanje and Chikwawa districts in the south, 125,000 and 62,500 people have been affected respectively. “Parts of these districts are not yet accessible due to poor conditions of roads and bridges, hindering delivery of relief items,” OCHA said. While the Department of Disaster Preparedness, Rehabilitation and Relief (DDPRR) has distributed maize, beans and salts as well as blankets in Nsanje, Mangochi, Zomba and Chikwawa, those items were “distributed only to people within the reach of public authorities, namely people accommodated in public buildings, schools and churches.” In the Central region, heavy rainfall has affected more farms, especially in Salima district. “The situation in Nkhotakota district, the worst affected in the Central region, remains critical,” warned OCHA. DDPRR had provided food assistance to the affected, until the depletion of stocks on 6 March. The government has appealed for US $6.7 million in assistance. Together with DDPRR, UNDP is coordinating donor and the UN’s efforts in response to the emergency. UNDP, UNICEF and WHO have deployed assessment teams in the field. The government and UNDP finalised arrangements for the procurement of blankets, iodised salt and plastic sheets with funding from the government of Norway and OCHA, the report said. Meanwhile, WFP has commenced food distribution for 58,900 “most affected persons” in six districts, aiming at providing 690 mt. WFP has worked out a logistics plan in collaboration with district officials and other partners to ensure efficient delivery of assistance. The possibility of using small canoes and army helicopters for areas that cannot be reached by road or rail is under consideration, OCHA noted. The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Malawi Red Cross have also been active in relief distribution.