OCHA Situation Report No. 5
Malawi - Floods
23 March 2001


Situation

1.  Many parts of the affected areas remain flooded and some of the
non-affected areas continue to be at risk of being flooded, because of
continuing rains.  The number of affected persons remains unchanged, i.e.
334,985.  In some areas, floodwaters are receding, allowing assessment
teams to verify the numbers, while other areas such as Makhanga, Mankhokwe
and Mbenje remain inaccessible, according to the Department of Disaster
Preparedness Relief and Rehabilitation (DDPRR).

2.  Between 12 and 19 March, the following assessment missions took place:
a joint UNICEF/WHO/Ministry of Health and Population mission; an FAO/WFP
food assessment mission; and a USAID food assessment mission.  During the
period 20 - 27 March, UN Heads of Agency will be visiting some of the
flood-affected districts.

3.  Financial assistance to procure available food stocks is urgently
required, as the Government's disaster preparedness stock were depleted on
6 March.  There are adequate food reserve stocks of maize, totalling
55,000 metric tonnes in country.

4.  Lack of access to the affected areas is of great concern.  Food and
non-food items are not reaching the people in need.  WFP Logistics Unit is
making efforts to ensure delivery of items.  Local means of transport were
hired to move food to the places where displaced are accommodated.  The
Logistics Unit approached the East African Railway Company to work out a
plan for food transport by rail to the areas that will be accessible by
rail as soon as the floodwaters start to recede.

5.  The living conditions of the displaced are also an issue.  The FAO/WFP
mission found that in Phalombe, food aid has not reached the people in
public buildings, schools and churches.  Many people are suffering from
skin diseases, malaria and cholera.  In Chikawawa, one of the most
affected districts, 85 cases of cholera and 5 cholera related deaths have
been reported.  The Government has intensified its cholera prevention
programme in all the flood-hit districts, to prevent the spread of the
disease.

6.  The Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation released estimates,
indicating an 11 - 22 % reduction in production compared to last year.
Major crop losses have occurred in the most affected districts of Nsanje,
Chikwawa, Salima, Phalombe and Nkhotakota.


National Response

7.  Police officers are working together with the Malawi Red Cross Society
(MRCS) and NGOs, ensuring order and security at food distribution sites.

8.  Various sub-sectoral task forces of the Ad-Hoc Committee for the
Emergency Response (a DDPRR-led overall coordination body which includes
UN agencies, NGOs and donors) met in Blantyre from 19 and 20 March to plan
and coordinate the disaster response activities (Situation Report No 4
para. 5).


International Response

9.  The Commissioner of the DDPRR, who chairs the Ad-hoc Committee for the
Emergency Response, reported that the Government has started receiving
financial aid and in-kind contributions, particularly medicines, from the
international community.  The Commissioner called for further donor
assistance as the aid so far received was still far below the amount
requested in the Government's appeal for USD 6.7 million.  OCHA, as of
date, recorded USD 273,791 in cash and in kind contributions.

10.  WFP is carrying out a three-month food distribution programme in the
most affected areas.  It has designated 4 professional staff to monitor
the implementation of the operation. Technical backstopping was also
provided to MRCS which is engaged in the actual distribution of food aid.
Additional vehicles and experienced staff for the implementation and
monitoring will be needed.

11.  UNICEF and WHO are working out aid packages on health, education,
water and environmental sanitation. UNICEF is considering interventions in
health, education and water/sanitation sectors for the districts of
Nsanje, Chikwawa and Nkhotakota.

12.  FAO is working out an aid package, including seeds, fertilisers and
tools for farming families affected by the floods.  FAO will decide the
target groups after its completion of a joint FAO/WFP food assessment
mission.

13.  Action by Churches Together (ACT) has launched on 21 March an appeal
seeking USD 855,405.  Two ACT members, i.e. the Evangelical Lutheran
Development Programme (ELDP) and Churches Action in Relief and Development
(CARD) will cover needs in shelter, food distribution, provision of seeds
and tools, water and sanitation and community training in disaster
preparedness.

14.  OCHA is prepared to serve as channel for cash contributions to be
used for immediate relief assistance, in co-ordination/consultation with
relevant organisations in the United Nations system. Funds should be
transferred to OCHA account no. CO-590.160.0, Swift code: UBSWCHZ12A at
the UBS AG, P.O. Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, with reference: "OCHA -
Malawi - floods 2001". OCHA provides donors with written confirmation and
pertinent details concerning the utilisation of the funds contributed.

15.  Any future updates on contributions to this disaster may be found by
clicking on Financial Tracking at the top of the page for this disaster on
the OCHA Internet Website (http://www.reliefweb.int). Donors are requested
to verify this table and inform OCHA Geneva of
corrections/additions/values. Donors are encouraged to notify OCHA Geneva
of their contributions to this disaster using the OCHA Standardized
Contributions Recording Format, available electronically in the above
mentioned Financial Tracking Website.

16.  This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies
are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at:
http://www.reliefweb.int.





Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers (OCHA Disaster Response Branch):
Mr. K. Wiersing / Ms. Y. Sawada / Mr. M. Bonnel
direct Tel. +41 22 917 2270 / 1768 / 1457

Press contact:  Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-91726 53


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