Malawi: Floods Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) United Nations Office of the Resident Coordinator Situation Report No. 3 (as of 23 January 2015) This report is produced jointly by the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) of Malawi and the United Nations Office of the Resident Coordinator in Malawi, in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It was issued by 24 January 2015. It covers the period from 16 to 23 January 2015. The next report will be issued on or around 27 January 2015. Highlights Since early January 2015 the southern districts of Malawi have been experiencing above-normal rains, which have provoked massive floods along the Shire and Ruo rivers. The President of the Republic of Malawi declared a State of Disaster on 13 January in 15 districts, with floods affected an estimate of 638,000 people countrywide, and 79 deaths. In Nsanje district only, 153 people are still missing. Preliminary assessments conducted by UNDAC in collaboration with local authorities indicate that the floods have left at least 174,000 people displaced in the three most hit districts: Nsanje, Chikwawa, Phalombe. On 21st January 2015, the Vice-President of Malawi announced the launch of a Preliminary Response Plan budgeted in US$ 81 million. At present, 21% has been funded. 638,000 15 174,000 79 153 63,531 Estimated affected Affected districts Displaced people in Deaths Missing people in Hectares of land people countrywide the 3 most affected Nsanje District flooded districts Situation Overview In early January 2015, heavy rainstorms and floods hit 15 out of the 28 districts in Malawi (Chikwawa, Nsanje, Phalombe, Zomba, Rumphi, Karonga, Thyolo, Machinga, Mangochi, Ntcheu, Chiradzulu, Mulanje, Balaka, Salima and Blantyre). The Government of Malawi (GoM) estimates that at least 174,000 people (numbers still being verified) have been displaced in the worst hit districts as their houses were washed away, or their roofs blown off, or were inundated, or simply collapsed because of water logging conditions. In addition to this, 79 deaths (54 at the time of the Declaration of a State of Disaster) have been reported as of 23 January 2015, as well as several injuries. In the District of Nsanje only, 153 people are still missing. According to the Malawi Meteorological Services, as of 23 January 2015, a rain belt is still active mainly over Central and Northern areas of Malawi, which will bring moderate to heavy rains in these regions. Warnings of flash floods and riverine flooding are active, especially for Karonga District. Thereafter, a low pressure area in the Mozambique Channel will influence Congo air mass to affect most areas of Malawi including Southern Malawi. However, Southern Malawi will receive less rain in the coming days. Locally heavy rains often accompanied by + For more information, see “background on the crisis” at the end of the report Department of Disaster Management Affairs of Malawi United Nations Office of the Resident Coordinator Malawi Floods - Situation Report No. 03 | 2 strong winds are expected mainly over Northern and Central areas, but lesser over the South until Saturday 24 January. A pick in rains is expected over Southern Malawi by Sunday 25 January until Tuesday 27 January 2015. The risks of flooding are still high. In the most affected areas, search and rescue operations are already concluded. A total of 3,649 people have been evacuated in Chikwawa to temporary sites. The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team continues the support to the emergency operations centers (EOC) in the 3 worst affected districts (Chikwawa, Nsanje and Phalombe). The report further indicates that there is extensive damage to houses and infrastructure, and an urgent need for food assistance. In addition, UNDAC teams concluded inter-agency assessment in Phalombe district and the verification of assessments in Nsanje and Chikwawa districts. UNDAC teams continue to assess the 12 districts and have started to assess the situation in Zomba and Charadzulu. As the weather forecast is predicting heavy rains in Northern Malawi, the assessment team will prioritize Karonga and Rumphi Districts, focusing not only on the impact of the heavy rains, but also on preparedness. Funding Following the Declaration of a State of Disaster by the State President on 13 January 2015, the humanitarian community supported the Government to develop a response plan. On 21st January 2015, the Government of Malawi, in collaboration with the Humanitarian Country Team, announced the launch of the Preliminary Response Plan (PRP), built on inputs from the GoM led and partner co-led clusters, for a total of US$ 81 million out of which 21% has been covered so far. The PRP is led by the GoM in partnership with the humanitarian community. Funds will be channeled through humanitarian partners. Before the Declaration of a State of Disaster, the GoM allocated MK 150 million (around US$ 325,000) to DoDMA. A second allocation has set aside by the GoM following this Declaration, amounting MK 500 million (around US$ 1.1 million) for emergency response and recovery. In addition, a number of foreign governments including Zambia, Japan, South Africa, Canada, Norway, United Kingdom and others have made donations both in-kind and cash. On 21 January 2015, IFRC launched an appeal of US$ 2.1 million to deliver assistance and support to 42,130 people (7,660 households), with a focus on emergency shelter, health, water and sanitation, food security, restoration of family links, and National Society capacity building. The UN Resident Coordinator received US$ 50,000 from the OCHA Emergency Cash Grant to support logistics. Malawi Preliminary Response Plan 2015 Requirements by sector (in million US$) US$81 million requested Shelter and Camp Management 17.9 Funded Food Security 17.8 21% Agriculture 15.9 Transport and Logistics 8.4 Education 5.7 Health and HIV 5.2 Protection 3.7 Funded Unmet Water and Sanitation 3.6 Pledged 79% Nutrition 2.3 Unmet Unmarked funds All humanitarian partners, including donors and recipient agencies, are encouraged to inform DoDMA and the OCHA's Financial Tracking Service (FTS - http://fts.unocha.org) of cash and in-kind contributions by e-mailing: [email protected] Department of Disaster Management Affairs of Malawi United Nations Office of the Resident Coordinator Malawi Floods - Situation Report No. 03 | 3 Humanitarian Response Shelter & Camp Management Cluster Lead: Ministry of Lands and Housing Co-Lead: Malawi Red Cross Needs: According to information available for the most hit districts (Chikwawa, Nsanje and 3,567 Phalombe), 174,000 in the most hit districts and some more tents are needed in the Tents required in worst temporary displacement sites. affected districts In total, 3,350 tents are needed for shelter and the provision of services to those affected and displaced, as well as plastic sheeting for repairing and reinforcing damaged houses. Response: 1,000 tents have been received, which are being distributed to sites, including by Malawi Defense Force. Plastic sheeting is currently being distributed by partners. ActionAid deployed sites monitors in 10 temporary displacements sites in Nsanje District (Bangula, Makhanga, Osiyana, Chigwafumu, Chikali, Mbwazi, Fatima, Phokela, Mlonda and Chilimba), to facilitate the coordination of all sites activities. Concern Universal, funded by Irish Aid, is distributing non-food items in Ntcheu, Chikwawa, Thyolo and Phalombe Districts, including nets, tents, soap, jerry cans, rope, axes, spades, chlorine, fuel efficient stoves and firewood. Save the Children International has mobilized US$ 32,100 for shelter and non-food relief items to be distributed in Zomba, Phalombe and Chiradzulu Districts. Malawi Red Cross volunteers are supporting site management in affected areas. Gaps & Constraints: As reported by UNDAC team based in Chikwawa, there is need for a proper relocation plan for the displaced populations. Shelter expertise is urgently required to support the district in developing this plan. Voluntary, uncoordinated return has already taken place. Food Security Cluster Lead: DoDMA Co-Lead: WFP Needs: Food assistance will likely be required up to April 2015, and high-energy biscuits are 26,000 MT an immediate requirement. required for food Using initial estimates, the total estimated requirement is 26,000 MT at an estimated assistance cost of US$ 17 million. Needs are likely to increase as the situation continues to evolve. On 19 January, the Government agreed to contribute 14,000 MT of maize from the Strategic Grain Reserves. Associated costs are urgently needed to transport and deliver the Government’s in-kind contribution. Response: Food distribution commenced using prepositioned stocks earmarked for the on-going response to food insecurity situation. The Government (in collaboration with different donors) through the Food Security Cluster has launched a flood response intervention called Relief Food Assistance that is aimed at assisting households affected by floods with food. The intervention will be delivered as an extension of the ongoing MVAC response as all the affected districts except Chiradzulu and Mangochi are under MVAC response. On 20 January, WFP has also airlifted 77MT of High Energy Biscuits (HEBs) into the country from the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Dubai for immediate distribution to the affected population in areas that remain largely cut-off, mainly some 77,000 displaced people who have no access to markets or cooking facilities in the hardest hit districts, Nsanje and Chikhwawa, especially those who are entirely cut off in the East Bank of Nsanje district. WFP has started moving to flooded areas stocks of food from its regular programmes that need to be replenished. Since mid-January (16 January), WFP has dispatched 890 MT of food (maize, beans, veg oil and super cereal) to the worst hit districts of Phalombe, Chikwawa, Nsanje and Mulanje. This food is to reach 26,000 flood-affected households (about 144,000 people).