Disasters kill 19 people
At least 19 people have died due to stormy rains and lighting since the onset of the 2022-23 rainfall season.
Out of the deaths, lightning has killed 14 people while five have died after walls collapsed on them.
According to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma), over 6,000 families—approximately 27,000 people— have been displaced by stormy rains and hailstorms in some districts of the country.
Dodma indicates that 55 people have been injured.
It cites Lilongwe as the district worst hit by stormy rains, which have affected villages around Likuni and Bunda, damaging people’s property in the process.
Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs Charles Kalemba told The Daily Times that some families are in need of assistance.
“As of December 7, out of 6,112 households, 5,036 have been assisted and the number of outstanding households to be assisted is currently at 1,076,” Kalemba said
He disclosed that, so far, they have dispatched relief items to Chikwawa District, where 373 households have been affected; Kasungu District, where natural forces have negatively affected 591 households; Mchinji District, where 551 households have been rendered destitute; Thyolo District, where the number of families in need of assistance stands at 229; Salima District (203); and Lilongwe, where 998 households are in need of assistance.
He said, in Karonga District, Dodma is on course to distributing prepositioned maize to 415 affected households by today.
Meanwhile, there have been reports of households being inconvenienced by natural disasters in Machinga District, where reports indicate the number stands at 31; Zomba (565); Dedza (164); Balaka (46); Mzimba (78); Nkhotakota (114) and Phalombe, at 51 households.
Member of Parliament for the area, Abel Kayembe, called on the government and well-wishers to assist affected people with shelter, foodstuffs and help in general rehabilitation of affected houses.
