Attachments
HIGHLIGHTS
- Between October 2024 and March 2025, 5.7 million people faced acute food insecurity.
- The nutrition situation has deteriorated significantly, with severe malnutrition rising by 21 per cent, from 1,649 in February 2024 to 5,076 in February 2025.
- As of 27th March 2025, 41,315 households (approximately 185,900 people) have been affected by the sudden onset of climate-related hazards, including Cyclones Jude and Chido.
- The country is dealing with many public health issues, including a cholera outbreak that started on 8th September 2024, with 306 cholera cases registered and 932 cases of measles reported by the end of March.
- Through UNICEF's support, 7,740 learners, including 3,824 girls, have gained access to inclusive, quality education and learning in safe and protective environments.
- UNICEF has provided access to safe water for drinking and domestic needs to 21,966 people from Mozambique and host communities in Nsanje district.
SITUATION OVERVIEW AND HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
Malawi is facing a cholera outbreak which started on 8th September 2024. Between September 2024 and 30th March 2025, 306 cholera cases were registered, including 15 deaths, across 12 of the country's 29 health districts. The case fatality rate of 4.9 per cent is significantly higher than the WHO threshold of 1 per cent. This indicates a severe impact on the affected population and underscores the need to continue strengthening response measures. Enhanced efforts in treatment-seeking and effective case management after admission are crucial to reducing fatalities. Only one district reported new cases in the last 28 days of March, suggesting that the outbreak may be coming under control in most areas, though vigilance is still required.
Additionally, sporadic measles cases have been reported in nine districts, with over 40 per cent of cases occurring in children aged five years or older. As of 30 March, 932 cases (50 per cent girls) were recorded. While targeted vaccination efforts are underway in affected areas, concerns persist about potential escalation as over 50 per cent of cases are in children older than five who are not covered by the vaccine. Furthermore, funding issues may leave thousands of children unvaccinated, increasing the risk of large outbreaks.
While recurrent climatic events continue to pose challenges, the current rainy season (October 2024 to April 2025) has seen a reduction in the number of people affected by floods and other weather-related events compared to the previous three years. As of 27th March 2025, 41,315 households (approximately 185,918 people) have been affected by sudden-onset climate-related hazards, including Cyclones Jude and Chido. Cyclone Jude (March 2025) impacted 10 councils, affected 7,265 households (32,692 people), displaced 5,155 people (3,524 in camps, 1,631 with relatives), causing 9 injuries and two deaths, while Cyclone Chido (December 2024) affected 10,159 households (45,162 people) across 18 district councils and 3 city councils. Despite the reduction in flood-related impacts, ongoing disaster management, improved infrastructure, and community preparedness remain crucial to mitigate future weather-related events.
In early 2025, the country's nutrition situation worsened considerably. Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) admissions rose by 21 per cent, from 1,649 in February 2024 to 5,076 in February 2025. This is expected given that 5.7 million people faced acute food insecurity between October 2024 and March 2025, according to the IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) Acute Food Insecurity Analysis (May 2024 - March 2025) published on 5th July 2024.
Malawi began receiving forcibly displaced persons (FDPs) from Mozambique on December 23, 2024, following the post-election violence that erupted in the country. By the end of the registration exercise on 13th February 2025, 3,898 households (7,904 individuals) were registered in the Nsanje, Dedza, Mulanje, and Mwanza districts. Following stabilization of the situation in Mozambique, voluntary repatriation commenced on 1st March and has been completed by mid-March. 229 households that opted not to go back to Mozambique are still at the Nyamithuthu site in Nsanje, and plans are underway to move them to an existing refugee camp in central Malawi. The National Stakeholder Group agreed that the camp should be officially closed by 30th April.