UNITED NATIONS Office of the Resident Coordinator

Malawi Situation Report No.4 /2003

Floods update Despite the late start of the rains, the 2002/2003 wet season has surprised many, with the early occurrence of flooding, particularly in areas where floods have not previously occurred or were not thought vulnerable. The main cause of this year’s early floods has been due to heavy rains caused by Cyclone Delfina, which resulted in heavy flooding in the country between the New Year and 13th January 2003. Districts affected include , Rumphi, Chitipa, Salima, Dowa, Dedza, Ntcheu, Mchinji, Lilongwe, Balaka, Machinga, Nsanje, Phalombe, Zomba and Mwanza. Karonga has been affected twice, just before Christmas 2002 and in January 2003. The State President, His Excellency Dr. Bakili Muluzi, accompanied by a team of government ministers carried out an aerial survey of the affected areas to assess the extent and effects of the flooding. Immediately after he declared a state of disaster for ; Nyungwe-Wovwe in Karonga District; Lisungwi EPA in ; Ntcheu South and Bwanje Valley and Balaka South District.

The flood assessment report submitted on the 25th January 03 to the UN Resident Coordinator by the Department of Poverty and Disaster Management Affairs (DoPDMA) which indicated that up to 6,838 homes were damaged while a total of 81,604 households had their crops affected. The report also includes assessments carried out by the Ministries of Water Development, Health and Population, Transport and Public Works and Agriculture and Irrigation. The report has been circulated to all UN agencies in Malawi.

The UN agencies in the country are responding to the flood affected victims by working directly with the above named ministries and with the Non Governmental Organisations on the ground. It was anticipated by all the UN agencies during their project revisions of the Consolidated Appeal Process Mid term Review (CAP MTR) that the districts prone to flooding would be requiring emergency assistance during the rainy season. A full funding of the sectors as stated in the CAP MTR will ensure that the emergency humanitarian requirements of the flood-affected victims will continue to be met. So far the sectors, which have been most successful in addressing the immediate needs of the flood-affected victims have been the ones where funds have been secured. An urgent need for funds for the agriculture sector (see FAO CAP project) is required to ensure a timely intervention to those families who have had their crops washed away. FAO already included a project profile in the Mid Term Review of the Consolidated Appeal Process to address the immediate need of flood/drought-affected families. The proposal is in line with the urgent needs of those affected by the floods as stated by the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Management Affairs. FAO will be able to assist as soon as they receive funds.

P.O. BOX 30135, LILONGWE-3, MALAWI, TEL: (265) 773 500, FAX: (265) 773 637.Internert: [email protected] In response to the need to plan for flood disasters, three District Flood Contingency Plans were completed for Nsanje, Chikwawa and Mangochi during 2002 with assistance from UNDP, WFP and OCHA. Although Chikwawa and Mangochi have not been so badly affected by the recent floods it is evident from the Nsanje response to the floods that the District was able to coordinate and organise the assessment of the flood-affected areas according to arrangements outlined in their Contingency Plan. Development of relevant Disaster Management Plans for the districts need to be seen as a priority in the humanitarian response to the crisis if further progress is to be made in improving the capacity of districts to respond to crises such as floods. Donor support to the coordination sector will ensure that the project proposal (not yet funded) made by UNDP for the implementation of Contingency Plans are implemented in the districts affected by floods, to mitigate and reduce future possible crises. (See UNDP Programme under the CAP)

Relief Assistance DoPDMA assisted a total of 1,613 households whose houses have been damaged as follows: 1 x 50 kg bag of maize, 5 kg of beans, 1 kg of salt, 2 blankets, 1 plastic pail, 4 plastic plates, 5 plastic cups, 10 metres plastic sheeting. In some areas the department has also provided tents.

WFP, prioritised food distributions to flood victim families among those covered by the EMOP in Salima and Rumphi Districts. As WFP had anticipated a scaling up of its operation in February, registration priority is to be given to those who were affected during the recent floods.

UNICEF, is assisting with the provision of tents to those schools which were affected during the floods, it has also provided non food items to those families mostly affected, it has provided chlorine for water treatments and it’s releasing funds for the construction of community latrines in the affected districts.

WHO, through the Ministry of Health and Population channels will distribute 50,000 impregnated mosquito nets to the population mostly affected. WHO it’s also working with the Ministry of Health to ensure that provisions are made and funds made available to mitigate any possible disease outbreak.

FAO received official information from the Ministry of Agriculture on flood damages and cost estimates for both short and medium term interventions. FAO has approached some donors in order to secure funds to assist farmers with seeds, fertiliser and tools for the winter planting season no funds have yet been received.

UNDP – BCPR has indicated $50,000. In consultations with the DPDMA this amount will be used within Salima District.

UNHABITAT is sending a team to work with the DoPDMA to assess the housing situation and provide recommendations.

Other assistance Non Governmental Organisations such as SC (US), SC (UK), GTZ, and MRC have also been highly involved in assisting the flood-affected victims, Some donor countries have also assisted the DoPDMA, UN agencies with inkind assistance for the flood- affected victims.

Lilongwe, 5 February 2003

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