Malawi: Floods [DHA-02: 18-Feb-97]

Malawi: Floods [DHA-02: 18-Feb-97]



                              United Nations
                    Department of Humanitarian Affairs

                              Malawi - Floods
                        DHA Situation Report No. 2
                             18 February 1997



                     INTERNATIONAL APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE

       1.     The UN Resident Coordinator in Lilongwe reports that  
       the Government of Malawi has issued a communique, appealing  
       for international assistance.                                
                                                                    
       2.     Weeks of incessant heavy rains caused serious         
       flooding in southern-most part of Malawi, especially the     
       Nsanje and Chikwawa districts.  With heavy rains still       
       continuing, damage in other low lying areas is also feared.  
                                                                    
       3.     The Government's preliminary assessments indicate     
       80,000 families affected by the floods.  Main assistance     
       needs are for food, shelter, blankets, medical supplies,     
       water, kitchen utensils, garden tools, agricultural inputs,  
       and the reconstruction of bridges.                           
                                                                    
       4.     Floods water made many parts of roads in the region   
       inaccessible, posing possible difficulties in transporting   
       and distributing relief goods.  The Government estimates     
       the cost of emergency repair works to be USD 304,660.        
                                                                    
       5.     DHA has dispatched today a four-person UN Disaster    
       Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team to assist in        
       further assessments of the situation/needs.  The team is     
       scheduled to arrive in Lilongwe mid-day 19 February.         
                                                                    
       6.     DHA has immediately released an emergency grant of    
       USD 30,000 to cover immediate relief needs.                  
                                                                    
       7.     DHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash        
       contributions to be used during the immediate relief phase.  
       Funds are spent in coordination with relevant organizations  
       of the UN system, and DHA provides donor Governments with    
       written confirmation on utilizations of the funds            
       contributed.                                                 
                                                                    
       8.     Funds should be transferred to DHA account no. CO.    
       590.160.1 at Swiss Bank Corporation, Case Postale 2770, CH-  
       1211 Geneva 2, with reference: Malawi - Floods.              
                                                                    
       9.     For coordination purposes, donors are requested to    
       inform DHA Geneva, as indicated below, of bilateral relief   
       missions/ pledges/ contributions and their corresponding     
       values by item.                                              



       Telephone number: +41-22-917-1234                            
       In case of emergency only: +41-22-917-2010                   
       Desk Officer: Ms. Kayo Gotoh, direct tel: +41-22-917-1258    
       Press to contact: Ms. M. Moulin-Acevedo
           direct tel: +41-22-917-2856
       Telex: 41 42 42 dha ch                                       
       Fax: +41-22-917-0023                                         
       E-Mail: dhagva@dha.unicc.org                                 



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