Mutharika declares Malawi disaster zone, appeal for foreign aid

January 14, 2015 Zawadi Chilunga - Nyasa Times 81 Comments

Malawian President Peter Mutharika has declared a third of the country a disaster zone and urgently appealed for foreign aid  as incessant rainfall has continued to wreak havoc across the country.

Troubled waters
Troubled waters.-Photo by Thoko Chikondi
Floods cause havoc in Malawi
Floods cause havoc in Malawi

At least 48 people have been killed and around 23,000 forced from their homes by heavy flooding, the President said on Tuesday.

Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs said the number of those who had been displaced as a result of the flooding had risen to some 45,000 people – or 7,500 households – in 14 districts.

“Assessment of the impact of the floods is a problem currently because most of the affected areas are inaccessible,” said President Mutharika.

He  said the Malawi Defence Force has already been requested to “undertake rescue operations using boats.”

So far, rescue efforts have been hampered by funding shortfalls,  the President pointed out and appealed for international help.

“I appeal for humanitarian assistance, from the International donor community, the relevant United Nations agencies, the Non Governmental Organisations, the local private sector as well as all fellow citizens of goodwill, so that, together, we can contribute in alleviating suffering on the part of people affected by the floods,” said Mutharika.

“Tents and food are urgently required. Rescue operations are also a priority. Donations in cash or kind should be sent to the Secretary and Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs, P/Bag 336, Lilongwe 3,” said the Malawi leader.

The worst affected districts which the President Mutharika has declared a disaster zone are Nsanje, Chikwawa, Phalombe, Zomba, Blantyre, Chiradzulu, Thyolo, Mulanje, Balaka, Machinga, Mangochi, Ntcheu, Salima, Rumphi and Karonga.

One government official said many victims died when villages were flooded in Mangochi district.

“People have fled into schools and churches on higher ground, others are in the open because there is not enough space,” said Grey Mkwanda, a district planning officer, was quoted by a report Raphael Tenthani filed for Associated Press news agency.

He added that some victims in Blantyre had perished when their homes collapsed.

According to the city’s police spokesman, Elizabeth Divala, search teams are still looking for two children who went missing during the floods.

Malawi’s rainy season begins in October and ends in April.

Since the rains began last year, heavy downpours have been common in most parts of the country.

Elina Kululanga, director of metrological services and climate change management, told AA last Friday that forecasts had shown that the rain would continue for two or three more days, mostly in the country’s northern and central regions.

 

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81 replies on “Mutharika declares Malawi disaster zone, appeal for foreign aid”

  3. Oh ALLAH! In YOU alone may we put our refuge. There’s no one else who can protect us except YOU. Of course we know that we shall taste death, bt we begg you to remove this disaster away from us. Ameen.

  4. As a president realise some cash from the government to help the suffering people, don’t wait for the donors. If the child is sick in the we first do our own first aid by giving panado before we think of the doctor

  7. we jus needs prayer no one can deals with accept God himself tingogwilana manja tonse osusa ndi aboma ndkuthandidzana

  8. A president mwaiwala Lilongwe kapena chifukwa choti ndipa central region zoti anthu akufa moti simunave. Bwanji mukungotchula ku mmwera? The whole country is affected mr presedent other areas remain unspoted because they donnt where to report such issues

  9. When it rains it pours! When it dries up, cities and helpless Malawians languish. Corruption is the greatest disaster and the rest is the fruit. Even nature says No to poor governance

  10. God love his people, and knows every thing. Chitani changu aboma mungaluza wanthu wanandi, tavisutsa.

  12. Mr presdent start playing fo forgivness to avoid more wrath of GOD.I heard de country was sold to satanism already acordin to one of de profecy told

  13. This is not time to point fingers on each other. Wat we suposed to do is to find the way to help the ones who are staving ryt no

    1. Things happen but it will just be fine. Malawians are already always united. It’s just a reminder that leaders governing the country should be saving and protecting the government money instead of plundering it so that when unfortunate events like these happen we don’t wait for foreigners to intervene in what is our responsibility to begin with.

  16. Is only allah who gon care and recover for that accident lets ply for these pipo who dead for that accident am warry and cryng for my malawi mulungu oziwa kuthomdoza andichonsoni

  17. Is only allah who gon care and recover for that accident lets ply for these pipo who dead for that accident am warry and cryng for my malawi mulungu oziwa kuthomdoza andichonsoni

  18. sorry 4 those affected government must take some action they just know how to steal tax payers money this flooding issue has been going 4 some dacade now plz think about the citizens

  22. Fellow malawian! I,m shocked about that incidence, I do believe that we have a good Readers they can solve that accident. Don,t start berging without trying ourself. Let us try if we failled,we will take other steps. Please our Readers you are a good. Reader wee believe on you that’s why we choose to be our readers. Do something about it. Iam crying for my malawian

  23. Sure we need Donor support and need to start long term plan now as we are always caught un aware each time there is a crisis in our country. Let us act swiftly now and plan for years to come.

  24. Sumtymz ts beta to remain quiet n dnt comment dan tok shit as sum retarded minded pipo r doin by asociatin dis wt coruption! Kumakhala kusamva zikukambidwazo kapena kuzimva kuzindikira?kubadwa mopwambwana eti

  26. Very sad indeed.
    But, corruption and raiding government financial reserves by UDF, DPP and PP have curtailed the state of readiness to deal with disaster.
    There are a few good steps to take for the International community to feel comfortable about any aid.
    First, expose the people who stole money from the government from all political parties
    Second, create an environment for donor confidence by setting up checks and audits at every step money changes hands
    Third, plant trees or some kind of ground cover along rivers, upstream, and in all catchment areas to soak in surface water otherwise more floods are on the way. Simply, global climate change is real and landslides will follow.
    Fourth, remove the hate practices education, the so called quota system fits one narrative; marginalization and subjugation of Northerners. Why would a donor trust that you will distribute aid to disaster areas (North) equitably, when you can’t be honest about supporting poor parents giving their children a chance to improve themselves?
    The International community ought to distribute aid directly to affected areas otherwise the Malawi government structure in place, discriminates when it comes to sharing resources.

    1. kumamva chisoni ndi miyoyo ya anthu omwe akuvutika osati zopusa ukuyamkhulazo mwazinalako tozer likutanthauzanji uzimvele chison.

  29. Abiti Fwe Fwe Fwe, you’re comments are more if the leftie and brownie. It’s nothing to do with ISIS,JIHAD, Al-Qaeda etc, which you seem supporting and affiliate with, it’s natural disaster and if you want the world know let African governments be doing that. Why the western world. You’re out of order my brother and you need deliverance and circumcision of heart and spirit.
    Coming to disaster, please Government has to be proactive in all things affecting citizenry. We seem very backward starting with politicised MBC-TV. Met Department can’t work as you would expect. Now Government I’d asking for donor support. I thought BEAM as organisation can chip in and start support cleaning exercises in all affected districts…That’s fact!
    Malawi is not poor, her leader is. Go get all stolen money from government dating Felisoni Malikoja, Big Kahuna, JB and now current administration people will be served from these catastrophics.

  30. Specially to crispin nyanga.
    Talk of ufa, mabulangeti, matenti , you need money to buy them. Masiku ano chilichonse ndi ndalama. Ndi aja mumati ngakhale mafuta asowe ife sitimakwera galimoto koma sopo muli naye kuti akufikireni ndiye kti galimoto ikatenge kopangako. Akhoza kukuposani mwana wa ku mkaka kuganiza.

  31. hahaha state of emergency my foot..if this was sincere then use the money that your wife is fyling in davido for a meeting to help these people…mukuti mukufuina chithandizo koma chonsecho akazi anu akufuna kutenga ndalama kuti apangitsile dansi?koma mitu yanu ikugwila?vuto loika anthu okalambo kuti aziti tsogololel

  33. Am so sorry nothing to say i wish this floods could have mercy on us its like world its up on our shoulders, we need to take little a little to look around us in our life they is so much pains, really Jews ndi anthu oipa but i wanna know what love is

  34. Thats all you know money money money for what?you cant come up with something usefull presdent my foot.

  35. asaaa mavuto afika pano busy asking 4 help takuziwani ndimomwe mumadyela eti thandizani anthu osati kupempha-pempha malawi dziko labwino koma mukuononga ndinu akumipandonu tengani ndalama pomwe mwayika nkunthandiza anthu mukatelo anthu akukondani osati mzipempha ayi shemmmm on u goverment

  36. Mukuphemba chithandizo cha chiyani iwe pitala? Ndiphembe mayiko ndi mabungwe onse kuthi asamvele zimene waphemba pitalazo, ndalama zilipo zoti angathe kuthandiza pamavuto amenewa, atenge mk92 billion kwacha ija agwilitsile ntchito pothandiza

  38. This has happened because all of the radio broadcasting stations including mbc tv know how to foretell what the weather is gonna be like however they neglected it and it has resulted in this, maybe the people that are suffering now could have been evacuated, maybe some lives would not have been lost.. Malawi still thinks backwards I think!!! And now you want millions of aid at the expense of the poor.. You are just gonna squander it!!

  39. So the president has seen it as an opportunity to request for the stopped aid! My foot. We can deal with this by just being proactive. And mmene zatigweramu, we can as well deal with it on our own. If it were asking for technical support in rescue operations maybe I could understand. Not financial aid. Akakupatsani mubenso ngati za ku NAC? And where is NAC in this since they do disburse funds during events. Amafuna maphwando okhaokha? kuzolowera

  40. CALL YOUR MUM BACK JB
    BECAUSE NOW UR IN SHIT BECAUSE OF STUPIDITY OF SOME PEOPLE.
    THE PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER TO DO THAT.
    ALL TOGETHER AND WITHOUT VIOLENCE ASK POLITE TO APM TO GO AWAY AND SAY LOUD WE WANT OUR MOTHER BACK
    SHE WILL FORGIVE YOU ALL FOR BAD DECISIONS

  41. ASKING FOR AID FOR WHAT?AGAIN BEGGING?TAKE THE MONEY THAT YOU STEAL FOR MALAWI AND HELP PEOPLE.
    APM WANT MORE MONEY AFTER ALL THIS THEFT INSIDE GOUVERNMENT,PEOPLE WILL NOT GIVE AND ALL BECAUSE OF HIM.
    PEPANI MALAWIAN PEOPLE

  49. The president has appealed! kkkk, once given the cash it wont go to the needy, it will go to Mulakho or Beam thats Malawi i know. Where is K92billion pliz assist the needy.

  51. You should also appeal for help from nac!!! Dziko lo pusa with stupid leaders!!! Mumaononga ndalama pa zinthu zopusa!!!! Vianthu vopusa kwabasi!!! Learn to put into positions people of integrity people safeguard the national purse!!!!

    I hope these stupid morons who u voted for will help you!!! Pathako panu ndithu!!!! President wantundu wanji woti anthu akufa iye akukwela dege kupita kunja!!!! Za pa thako basi!!!!!!

  52. The sad part is that we do not learn from past experiences. Authorities are not able to enforce no cultivation and building on hill sides and river banks, A ku Chikwawa tatopa nawonso. They want to continue living in flood prone areas and the story is the same year in year out – disasters. Do we have a Govt that can sort the issue once and for all? They seem to be attracted to donations when their homes are flooded.

  54. Oh my Dear Gold, I thank you for the gift of rain which I know that is soo important for the lives of the Nation, but May I berg if this should continue properly not with a lot of disaster. This should not be done according to my will but your will in Jesus Name I pray, Amen

  56. Very sad indeed, but could the authorities explain how much aid is needed from the donors? Could they also say how much monies are in the disaster fund that I think is levied from fuel pump sales?

  58. Finally our your so called president of the republic of Nyasaland has woken from his catatonic stupour. He wanted the number of dead people to reach this much before he realised the country is in a state of emergency? I cry for my beloved country with no leadership

  59. May ask the Commissioner off Disaster Management to establish an emergency banking account. This is much better than the postal address. We don’t need letters now but cash to help the needy.

  61. Most of country has no power and no word from escom ? Are these clowns fast asleep. Why no communication. Nothing on their Web site

  64. Unfortunately Malawi govt did not use the predictions by Met depart to plan and put reserves for these disasters, now we are caught off guarded. Will be praying for Gods comfort for the families that have lost their loved ones, and protection and supplies for the displaced families. May the Lord watch over them as they seek a better option for their livelihood.

  65. I sincerely send my condolencies to the families that have lost their loved ones as well as those who are now homelss, may almighty Lord be on you. Am once again appealing to public to work and help each other without first calling intenational help which will take months. God have mercy on your people of Malawi.

  66. Ndalama za AID angozitafunapo, azikatafuna za ku NAC? Donors use ur money else where awa ndi aapuludzu okhaokha..i feel sorry for the victims but I feel much sorry for people to use them to squander money. Our nation needs prayers.

  67. Tione tsono kuti chimanga folo chitithandiza bwanji.
    Kapenanso kulephera kwawo aziti waoangitsa ndi Joyce Banda?
    Amayi help us poor malawians to come out of this mess.
    Disaster Preparedness is not prepared at all.

  70. So APM finaly awaken from his deep slumber. Malawi was already in a state of ermegency. The floods have just worsoned the situation. The Dept of Disaster Mgt is a disaster itself; we shud not expect it to respond to another disaster. We looted the resources that cud be handy in situations like these. Now we are shamelesly begging from the same donors who cut their aid. These are the ramifications of corruption and bad governance. Yet more is to come. Soon we will need food aid, even after pumping billions into an unsustainable input subsidy program.OMG!

  76. #Je Suis Malawien! Tiyeni azungu, dzana lija atafa 12 anu dziko lonse lapansi linatsegula mmimba, aliyense kumangoyabwidwa. Lero yathu mizimu ya chikuda 48 ndi iyo mukumva yapitayi(4 times more than white souls), nafenso tiyikeni pa breaking news kuti dziko litidziwe kuti tapezeka, mwina zinyenyetswa za bread zokha zingatipeze nafenso kuno. Anthu atsankho inu ma jews ana a mamba mbuzi

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