Malawi: Cyclone Heightens Hunger Woes

15 January
MALAWI: Cyclone heightens hunger woes

Malawians this week had a rare respite from torrential rains that fell almost daily over the past two weeks, causing heavy floods across the country.

President Bakili Muluzi declared a state of disaster, after floods killed seven people and wreaked havoc on houses, crops and property, aggravating a current food crisis.

Malawians, whose rainy season officially commences in mid-October, prayed fervently when rains failed to materialise. But when they did come in mid-December, precipitated by tropical Cyclone Delfina, they returned with a vengeance.

The Meteorological Department daily bulletins registered rainfall up to 100 millimetres per day in many areas.

Several World Vision Malawi Area Development Programmes (ADPs) report damage to houses, crops, livestocks and possessions due to the floods.

World Vision New Zealand-funded Mikolongwe ADP, in southern Malawi, suffered a double blow with buffeting by a hurricane that blew off roofs on 40 houses, forcing families to shelter in a nearby church for over a week. The hurricane also destroyed crops in 11 hectares of gardens.

The ADP provided relief assistance in the form of food, seeds and iron sheets for roofing.

World Vision Malawi is compiling reports on all aspects of the disaster in the ADPs. Project personnel are under instructions to provide immediate relief assistance.

ENDS

James Addis Press Officer World Vision New Zealand Ph: 64 9 3560747 Fax: 64 9 3093166

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