Malawi - Weather-related disasters (DG ECHO, Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), Malawi Red Cross, Health Cluster) (ECHO Daily Flash of 16 January 2026)

Since the onset of the rainy season in December, widespread stormy rains, strong winds, flash floods, and lightning, has affected some 160 000 people, across 29 districts. The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has recorded 36 deaths, 168 injuries, and 2 missing. An estimated 150 000 – 170 000 people need immediate humanitarian assistance, including food, shelter, WASH, health, and protection services. Needs are expected to rise if heavy rains persist through February/March 2026.

Nkhotakota District (Central Region of Malawi) remains most affected, with 10 772 households impacted, 11 deaths, 37 injured, 2 missing and hosting 9 594 displaced across 12 camps. Additional hotspots include Salima, affected by lakeshore flooding and saturated soils, and Nsanje and Chikwawa, where flooding has caused house collapses and agricultural losses. Critical gaps persist in WASH supplies, increasing the risk of cholera and other water-borne diseases, alongside shortages of mosquito nets, inadequate lighting in internally displaced people sites and the mobile operating theatre at Kasasa. Since 1 November, 26 confirmed cholera cases are reported, including one death in Blantyre, 32 imported cases and two deaths from Mozambique.