Storms kill 85, affect 1m households
Combined effects of Tropical Storms Gombe and Ana between January and March have killed 85 people and affected 1 154 298 others in the Southern Region, Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) has said.
Thirty-nine people were killed due to effects of Tropical Storm Gombe in March while 46 were killed during Tropical Storm Ana in January.
The storms influenced heavy winds and rainfall which induced floods that damaged infrastructure such as houses, electricity power lines, roads, bridges and rails and swept away various crops.
In its report on the effects of Tropical Storm Gombe released on Wednesday, Dodma said out of the 1 154 298 people affected, 159 226 have suffered the effects of Gombe in March alone.
On the other hand, 995 072 people were affected by Tropical Storm Ana in January.
The two storms have also displaced 43 943 households. By way of break down, Gombe displaced 11 008 and Ana displaced 32 935.
The devastation caused by the storms prompted experts to call for enhancement of early warning systems and anticipatory action as well as finance to help disaster-struck communities recover and rebuild.
But following the storms, Dodma said in the report that camps were set where the displaced households continue to be accommodated as well as living with relations.
Reads part of the report: “Sixty seven camps were set and are hosting most of the displaced households while others sought refuge in schools and their relations’ houses.”
The two storms have also caused injuries to 226 people. Twenty were affected during Tropical Storm Gombe while 206 were injured due to Tropical Storm Ana effects.
Besides, 239 536 people have been displaced with Gombe accounting for 49 536 and Ana 190 000.
Dodma commissioner Charles Kalemba said in the report that the disaster affairs department is currently providing relief assistance to the affected people.
“The department, in collaboration with various humanitarian partners and affected councils, has been providing basic relief assistance, which includes food and shelter, to the affected people,” he said.
Some of the councils affected by the storms are Nsanje, Chikwawa, Mulanje, Blantyre, Machinga, Zomba, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Mangochi, Phalombe and Salima.
But the most affected councils are Nsanje and Chikwawa in the Shire Valley which account for over 495 965 victims.
The two storms are anticipated to affect this year’s crop output with over 71 716 hectares of crops washed away in the Southern Region. For instance, a Famine Early Warning Systems Network report projects the national crop production to be 10 to 25 percent below average with largest deficits expected in the South.
