OCHA Situation Report No. 8
Malawi - Floods
15 May 2001


This report is based on information received from the UN Resident
Coordinator's Office in Malawi.

Situation

1.  Since mid-April, no heavy rains have been recorded and floodwaters
have continued to recede in the affected area.  Access to the flood
affected areas, such as Makhanga, Mankhokwe, Mbenje and parts of Phalombe
has improved.  Affected families continue to go back to their villages to
start rebuilding their homes.  With winter approaching and the temperature
dropping, living conditions of the affected families are getting more
difficult.

2.  The Government is finalizing the assessment of the damage caused by
floods in the Central and Northern Region so as to come up with the final
figures on the number of people affected.  To date, the official figure
given by the Department for Disaster Preparedness, Rehabilitation and
Relief (DDPRR) stands at 335,000.  WFP has been targeting 208,500 people
in the hardest hit districts of Chikwawa, Machinga, Mangochi, Nsanje,
Phalombe, Salima and Zomba.

3.  As the floods washed away crops, e.g. maize, food is now a priority.  
Relief items so far received and distributed by the Government have mainly
been non-food items.  Malnutrition especially among children and pregnant
women for the coming months is of a great concern.  The Food resources of
DDPRR have almost exhausted.  To date, USD 1.1 million has been pledged
for WFP Emergency Operation Plan (EMOP) which requests USD 3.3 million.  
The Government stressed the acute need of food aid at the meetings of the
Ad-Hoc Committee for the Emergency Response and donor meetings.


National Assistance

4.  The DDPRR continues its efforts in coordinating the Government
response to the disaster and in raising funds to procure food commodities
for the victims.  The Vice President appealed for assistance for the
recovery and rehabilitation phase.  The Ministries of Transport and Works,
Health and Population, and Agriculture and Livestock Development have been
tasked to expedite and finalize assessment of damages so as to provide
donors with consolidated needs.  The Ministry of Agriculture is leading
the appeal for farm inputs, particularly seeds, to be distributed to
affected farmers for the winter planting season.


International Assistance

5.  To date, the Governments of Botswana, Canada, China, Germany, Norway,
Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States have pledged or provided
cash and/or in-kind contributions bilaterally or through NGOs or the UN
system.  As of 14 May, OCHA recorded USD 833,258.

6.  OCHA has released USD 40,000 from its Emergency Cash Grants and the
Cash Grants Reserve of the Government of Norway for procurement and
distribution of relief items.

7.  UNDP procured 80 metric tons of iodised salt for distribution by WFP,
and 8,000 blankets and 500 rolls of plastic sheeting for distribution by
UNICEF.

8.  Following the food assessment mission, FAO continues to seek funds for
purchase of seeds, tools and veterinary drugs for distribution to the
affected farmers in the Southern Region.

9.  WFP has distributed food aid to 94,050 beneficiaries, as of 7 May.
Likuni Phala (supplementary feeding) and salt are being procured for
distribution.

10.  UNICEF has procured selected basic drugs for 20 health centres, some
school materials for five schools and 5,000 blankets at a total cost of
USD 90,000, for distribution in Nsanje and Salime districts.

11.  The UN Country Team is working with the Government to have a
consolidated update of the situation to identify unmet needs.

8.  IFRC reported that it received 15% of the total requirements for its
appeal for CHF 3,513,691.  IFRC stressed an urgent need for rehabilitation
of flooded wells, bore holes and latrines to ensure access to clean water
supply.

9.  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

10.  Information 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.

11.  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

Focal Points (OCHA Disaster Response Branch):
  Mr. J. Boutroue (Chief, Africa I and the Middle East)
  Ms. Y. Sawada (Desk Officer) direct Tel. +41 22 917 1438/1768

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-91726 53
   (NY)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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