Malawi: Floods [DHA-03: 21-Feb-97]
Malawi: Floods [DHA-03: 21-Feb-97]
United Nations
Department of Humanitarian Affairs
Malawi - Floods
DHA Situation Report No. 3
21 February 1997
INTERNATIONAL APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE
DHA-UNDAC TEAM IN THE FIELD
1. In response to the Malawian Government's appeal for
international assistance, DHA's UN Disaster Assessment and
Coordination (UNDAC) team arrived in Lilongwe on 19
February to assist in assessing floods damage and
assistance needs in southern Malawi.
2. UNDAC team left on 20 February for Blantyre,
together with representatives from the Government, the
local UN agencies, and EU/ECHO, to carry out two-day
assessments in the affected Lower Shire Valley areas, and
also to participate in a meeting with the Government and
NGOs on logistics arrangements. The team is expected to
return to Lilongwe on 22 February. Results of their
assessments are to be communicated in the next situation
report, scheduled for 24 February.
GOVERNMENT'S PRELIMINARY SURVEY
3. The Government, based on its preliminary survey on
13 February, issued a brief report, estimating the affected
population at 30,000 families in Chikwawa (population 510,
000) and 50,000 families (population 442,000), including
some 20,000 displaced Mozambican families. Roads to Nsanje
and East Bank in Chikwawa have been made impassable.
4. The Government indicates needs for maize flour (1,
480 tons over a one-month period, estimated at USD 428,500)
and beans (1,000 tons, estimated at USD 263,000). Non-food
requirements indicated by the Government include 80,000
blankets (80,000 pieces, estimated at USD 789,500),
transportation support (fuel and vehicles, estimated at USD
35,300), and temporary personnel support (USD 8,400).
NATIONAL RESPONSE
5. The Cabinet Committee on Disaster Management met on
14 February, followed by a meeting on 15 February of the
National Disaster Preparedness, Relief, and Rehabilitation
Committee of Malawi, to coordinate relief actions being/to
be taken by various Government bodies and the donor
community.
6. The Ministry of Relief and Rehabilitation Affairs
(MRRA) has provided 45.5 tons of rice (adequate to feed 1,
820 families for one week), 4.5 tons of beans (360
families), 1.2 tons of salt (1,200 families), and 1,360
blankets. The MRRA is to airlift to inaccessible areas
further food supplies (maize flour, beans, and blankets),
worth USD 693,000.
7. The Malawi Red Cross Society has provided blankets,
plastic sheets, and 2 fifty-person tents, while the
Christian Council of Malawi also provided 4 twenty-person
tents.
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
8. The following contributions have been reported to
DHA so far:
DHA - SD 30,000 emergency grant
Govt of Japan - 3,000 blankets and 10 twelve-person tents,
to be airlifted from the DHA Pisa Warehouse, as well as 3
emergency health kits and 1,000 water purification tabs
five-litre packs (valued at USD 163,544, including
transportation costs)
Govt of the USA - (USAID/OFDA) USD 25,000 (transportation
of relief goods and provision of shelter)
Govt of Denmark - provision of one UNDAC team member
Govt of Austria -provision of one UNDAC team member
Govt of Norway- provision of one UNDAC team member
Action by Churches Together - USD 7,000 (for repairing a
health center and a primary school in Thyolo District,
southern Malawi)
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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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