THOUSANDS DISPLACED IN MALAWI DUE TO FLASH FLOODS

Fri 01 March 2024:

Authorities in Malawi have reported that flash floods have destroyed two lakeshore districts, Nkhotakota in the central region and Karonga in the northern region, leaving thousands of people displaced and one dead.

Over 7,000 people have been displaced by the floods in Nkhotakota alone, according to a statement released on Thursday by the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA).

Those who have been displaced have been transported to nine camps located in the district. Along with reporting that 900 people who were stranded in different locations had been rescued by the national search and rescue team under the command of the Malawi Defense Force (MDF), DoDMA confirmed one death.

Meanwhile, the search and rescue team is ferrying relief items, including maize flour and tents, as well as medical personnel and supplies/equipment to areas that require urgent attention, according to DoDMA.

In Karonga, an earlier DoDMA preliminary update said more than 600 households have been affected by floods following heavy and continuous downpours that led to the swelling of one of the big rivers, North Rukuru, in the district. Other than houses and business structures being destroyed, undisclosed hectares of cropland with rice, cassava, maize, and other crops have been washed away in both districts.

Persistent rains continued to cause further damage to roads and bridges Thursday, and according to DoDMA, the delivery of essential services to those impacted is highly affected.

The authorities have said immediate needs for the displaced communities include food, clothing, shelter materials such as family tents, blankets, dignity kits and wash facilities (cups, pails, water treatment chemicals and mobile toilets).

Nkhotakota and Karonga are among the districts that lie on the shores of Lake Malawi and are prone to flash floods.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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