South Africa helps in floods
By Peter Kanjere:
The South African government has sent a rescue team to help Malawi deal with the disaster caused by floods that have hit most parts of the Southern Region, killing 28 people and displacing 110,000 others from 22,000 households in 10 districts.
“The Government of the Republic of South Africa has responded by sending rescue teams and operational teams. The response will support and enhance Malawi government’s relief operations already deployed on the ground,” reads a statement from The Office of the President and Cabinet.
Advertisement
In a statement issued on Friday, the Department of National Disaster Management Affairs says Chikwawa is the hardest hit district, having registered six cases of death due to heavy rains accompanied by strong winds coming from a deep low pressure area in neighbouring Mozambique. More deaths were reported over the weekend.
Search and rescue teams have been deployed, led by the army and police, with the death toll expected to rise as the rains continue.
Meteorological Department warned that the severe weather conditions would continue until last weekend due to “the atmospheric pressure value of 1001 milibars” which has intensified due to presence of the inter-tropical convergence zone oscillating over southern Malawi.”
Advertisement
Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee estimates that 3.3 million people in Malawi face hunger due to floods and the fall armyworm.
The government has committed 138 metric tonnes of relief maize, which has so far been distributed to 2,826,020 people, according to the disaster department.
The worst floods in Malawi claimed over 200 people in 2015.
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues
