28 Jan 2015

Government of Malawi has appreciated the assistance made by Botswana following a call for assistance after floods hit the Southern African country.

Botswana, following the appeal by Malawi’s president, Professor Arthur Mutharika, sent a consignment of various items including drugs, blankets, motor boats among others to assist.

Addressing the media on January 27, Malawi High Commissioner to Botswana, Ms Jane Kambalame said officials from the two respective governments were working together to ensure that the consignment reach Malawi before end of this week.

Ms Kambalame said as of January 21, 62 citizens had been confirmed dead while 153 were missing and 638 000 people estimated to be affected with 174 000 in displacement sites.

The southern region of Malawi had been experiencing heavy rainstorms and precipitation from late December, 2014 that have resulted into massive, widespread and devastating flooding affecting 15 of the country’s 28 administrative districts.

She explained that around 234 schools were damaged and 181 are currently used as relocation sites for displaced people who have lost their homes in the floods, while an estimated 200 000 students are not able to attend school.

The floods have caused loss of life, extensive damage to planted crops and farmland as well as infrastructure , hence Malawi President’s appeal for assistance. Authorities also estimate that 63 531 hectares of land have been submerged by flood waters, damaging a total of 40 000 hectares of farmed cropland that will contribute to loss of 48 000 metric tonnes of food production. ENDS