Attachments
HIGHLIGHTS
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Cases of malnutrition are rising, attributed to the worsening food security situation. In August 2024, a 43 per cent increase in children with severe wasting and an 82 per cent increase in children with moderate wasting was registered compared to the same month in 2023.
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52 new cholera cases have been registered in three districts, namely Chitipa (41 cases, one death), Karonga (9 cases) and Machinga (2 cases, one death).
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568,305 (272,786 M, 295,519 F) under-five children were screened for wasting and nutrition oedema in the six most affected districts from July to September 2024.
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Over 1,049,597 people living in drought-affected areas have been reached with messages about gender-based violence (GBV) risks and available response and reporting mechanisms.
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UNICEF has prepositioned over US$258,000 of emergency and essential health supplies to enhance outbreak response and access to essential services.
SITUATION IN NUMBERS
4,500,000 Children in need of humanitarian assistance
9,000,000 People in need of humanitarian assistance
334 Reported cases of cholera in 2024
5,700,000 People facing acute food insecurity
FUNDING OVERVIEW AND PARTNERSHIPS
To meet the critical humanitarian needs of children, adolescents, women, and men in Malawi in 2024, UNICEF Malawi requires US$ $47,382,732. As of the end of September 2024, UNICEF Malawi received US$ 9 million towards the appeal with major contributions from USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), UK and Japanese Governments in 2024. Along with funds carried over from the previous year, UNICEF secured US$ 16 million. At 66 per cent the funding gap is considerable. UNICEF continued facing challenges to support the implementation of some of the planned emergency response activities during the reporting period and last quarter of the year. UNICEF’s priority is continued access to healthcare for cholera and measles, therapeutic nutrition needs of malnourished children, water, sanitation and protection services.
SITUATION OVERVIEW AND HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
The 2024/25 rainfall seasonal outlook for Malawi projects that the country will experience weak La Niña conditions. The season is expected to be generally wetter than the previous season, raising concerns of potential flooding risk that might impact crop yields, properties, infrastructure, and lives. The forecast further indicates that the flooding will occur not just in the traditional 18 flood-prone districts but also in other districts across the country. Elevated water levels in Lake Malawi already increase the risk of flooding.
According to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA), more than 500,000 people are anticipated to be affected in the worst-case scenario. Based on the scenario, a contingency plan is under development, and measures are being implemented across all sectors to respond should the situation prevail.
The forecasted La Nina-related wet conditions raise concerns of a re-escalation of flooding, exacerbated primarily by floods, as Lake Malawi and the Shire River water levels have remained high. High water levels in Lake Malawi and the Shire River and ongoing rehabilitation of roads damaged by previous flooding events, which may not be completed before the rainy season, increase the risk of some districts being partially inaccessible.
New cholera cases were registered in three districts during the reporting period: Chitipa (41 cases, one death with 2.4 per cent CFR), Karonga (9 ) and Machinga (2 cases, one death). The CRF for the current outbreak affecting three districts is 3.85% (52 cases and 2 deaths). The country has identified 118 priority traditional authorities for multisectoral interventions (PAMIs) across 20 districts. UNICEF and other partners have scaled up preparedness efforts in these districts.
Cases of malnutrition are on the rise, attributed to the worsening of the food security situation due to the impact of El Nino. In August 2024, a 43 per cent increase in children with severe wasting and an 82 per cent increase in children with moderate wasting was registered compared to the same month in 2023. Overall, there has been a 17 per cent increase in severely wasted children and a 39 per cent increase in moderately wasted children between Jan-August 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. In September 2024, a 203 per cent increase in children with moderate wasting was registered compared to August 2023.
The threat of a possible escalation of measles outbreak, considering the risk is more significant during droughts. Since 29 August 2024, Mangochi district has reported a measles outbreak with over 126 cases and one death with CFR 0.8 per cent. Cases, including seven laboratories, confirmed 119 probable/epi-linked cases across 33 villages. Males accounted for 63 per cent of the reported cases. With support from WHO and UNICEF, almost 108,000 children below 15 years have been vaccinated as of 26 September 2024. Active community engagement, surveillance and vaccination are ongoing.
Malawi has not registered any cases of Mpox. The Ministry of Health, with support from partners, is strengthening surveillance and preparedness to respond in the event of an outbreak. A national Mpox preparedness and response plan costing US$ 2.2 has been finalized, and 14 districts have been designated high-risk. Training of trainers (TOT) on Mpox prevention and response have been conducted. UNICEF has also developed a response plan ( September 2024 – March 2025) costed at US$ 1.05 million, with US$ 300,000 planned for preparedness and US$ 750,000 for the response, but it remains unfunded.