K12bn raised in disaster response—Dodma
The Department of Disaster Management and Affairs (Dodma) has announced that so far $27 million (about K12.42 billion) has been raised towards flood disaster response.
In an interview on the sidelines of a press briefing on Friday in Lilongwe, secretary and commissioner for Dodma, Paul Chiunguzeni said the figure includes both domestic and international responses.
Said Chiunguzeni: “The response has been very encouraging and it continues to be so every day. Our international partners plus local companies and organisations have responded overwhelmingly to our tragedy and we are grateful,”
He said humanitarian partners continue to provide relief to affected people.
“Regarding the humanitarian response, on shelter cluster So far 4 329 households have been reached with shelter materials [tents and tarpaulins], 12 661 households have been supported with non food items, while 7 201 households have been supported with kitchen sets and 142 households have been supported with tool kits,” he said.
Chinguzeni said while emergency relief response is still in progress, his office with support from the United Nations (UN) Systems, the European Union (EU) and the World Bank, will from February 20 conduct a comprehensive Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA).
He said: “The PDNA is a tested methodology that will build the evidence base for the recovery plan by identifying the impact of the disaster on individuals, households, communities and national assets, and coping mechanism.
“It will also tackle, flood and community mapping in the frame work of the Shire River Basin Management Programme and the Malawi National Disaster Risk Programme.”
The current number of people displaced to temporary sites in all the 15 affected districts stands at 230 000.
While 176 people have been confirmed dead with 153 reported missing.
In a related development, the Central Emergency Relief Fund has approved a project proposal of the agriculture cluster of $1 million (about K451 million) for emergency assistance to support food insecure rural communities whose food production cycle has been severely disrupted by floods during the current cropping season in Nsanje, Phalombe and Chikwawa districts.
Last week, the UN system said it had mobilised about K4 billion ($9.2 million).
