Malawi - Floods Appeal No. 09/01 Operations Update No. 2

This Ops Update is intended for reporting on emergency appeals.
Period covered: 13 March - 30 April, 2001 (last Ops Update issued: no. 3 on 12 March, 2001).

Preliminary Appeal launched on 28 February, 2001 for CHF 2,471,910 for 2 months. Full Appeal issued on 26 March, 2001 for CHF 3,513,691 for 4 months.

DREF Allocated: CHF 100,000.

Beneficiaries: 20,000 beneficiaries for 2 months; 22,500 families (112,500 persons for 4 months.)

The context

Some degree of flooding occurs annually in Malawi. While all three of the country’s regions (north, central and south) have been affected this year, the southern Lower Shire region which stretches down to the border with Mozambique has suffered most due to its low, marshy terrain and the presence of several rivers flowing into the already swollen Shire River. The heavy rains are forecast to continue through March, and have caused the rivers in the area to burst their banks on at least three occasions, displacing many thousands of people, flooding homes and farmland, and causing severe damage to property and crops. Due to the already high water table, the flood waters are not receding, and with the ongoing rains the threat of further flooding only increases.

Although the loss of life has been minimal in large measure because the majority of people have heeded government warnings, thousands are at risk because of the timing of the floods. February is considered a lean month when most food stocks are used up ahead of the March harvest. With much of the harvest washed away, food is now a priority. The lack of food and shelter increases the vulnerability of flood victims, heavily impacting their health and nutritional status. The already serious situation has been compounded by damaged sanitation facilities, contaminated water, and stagnant water the increased threat of cholera and malaria cases, due to - which provides ideal breeding ground for malarial mosquitoes.

Responding to the humanitarian needs and to support the national society, the Federation launched Preliminary Appeal no. 09/01 on 28 February, 2001, followed by a full appeal issued on 26 March which increased the appeal budget to CHF 3,513,691 to provide assistance over a period of 4 months.

Red Cross/Red Crescent action

CHF 100,000 was allocated from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) which allowed the MRCS and the Federation to immediately start distributing relief items from stocks remaining from last year’s flooding, and procuring additional supplies.

The following non-food items were distributed during this period to a total of 5,967 beneficiaries:

• 6,886 blankets.
• 3,346 jerry cans.
• 710 kitchen sets.
• 675 tarpaulins.

To promote self-sustainability, the Federation and the MRCS consider it imperative that the planned seeds and tool kits are obtained as soon as possible. Each kit will contain the following:

• 10 kg maize grain (PAN 67 -- a disease resistant variety).
• One 20 gram packet of cabbage seeds.
• One 20 gram packet of lettuce seeds.
• 20 grams of beans.
• 20 grams of turnips.
• 20 grams onions.
• 1 tang hoe head.
• 1 sunken eye hoe head.
• 1 machete
• 1 axe head
• 1 outer bag

The MRCS has embarked on a cholera programme in Chikwawa. 32 cholera kits from Federation stocks have been donated to the local hospital and the staff has been trained in their use. MRCS volunteers and staff have assisted by clearing and disinfecting the grounds and buildings of the hospital.

Outstanding needs

Although the appeal included requests for assistance with WatSan components, the actual response has not been as forthcoming as hoped. There is an urgent need for rehabilitation of flooded wells, bore holes, and latrines. Many of the victims remain without access to clean water, and many of the affected areas are still covered with stagnant water, necessitating a vector control programme. Some 4,000 mosquito nets are expected to arrive at Blantyre during the first week of May.

Coordination

The MRCS and Federation officers regularly participate in the various Flood Relief committee meetings such as the government-chaired Ad Hoc Committee. The Red Cross chairs the shelters and NFI subcommittee and assists on the one for food (chaired by WFP).

Contributions

See Annex 1 for details.

For further details please contact: Richard Hunlede, Phone : 41 22 4314; Fax: 41 22 733 03 95; email: hunlede@ifrc.org

Donors providing in-kind relief in response to large-scale emergencies are urged to contact the Federation’s Logistics and Resource Mobilization Department to avoid any unnecessary delays in the clearance and delivery of emergency relief assistance.

All International Federation Operations seek to adhere to the Code of Conduct and are committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE Project) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.

This operation seeks to administer to the immediate requirements of the victims of this disaster. Subsequent operations to promote sustainable development or longer-term capacity building will require additional support, and these programmes are outlined on the Federation’s website.

For further information concerning Federation operations in this or other countries, please access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org.

Bekele Geleta
Head
Africa Department

Peter Rees-Gildea
Head a.i.
Relationship Management Department