Southern African Floods: World Vision begins response efforts

World Vision teams responding to the heavy floods that have swept across southern Africa in the past week have warned that thousands of children are prone to waterborne diseases and hunger in flood hit Malawi.

According to official figures, more than more than 638 000 people have been affected, with 28,000 children displaced, in what are being described as the worst floods to hit Malawi in 24 years.

Drinking water sources have been completely submerged and contaminated, so World Vision and other organisations are making a priority of tacking and preventing the spread of waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea, malaria, cholera. 

Hardest hit is Malawi, where World Vision has been responding with pre-positioned relief supplies.  Robert Kisyula, national director for World Vision Malawi, said: "There are thousands of displaced families living in camps now with no food. World Vision has to date supported over 2,000 households with maize, beans and tarpaulins.  

“The needs are dire. There is no water, limited sanitation facilities as parents and children share the few toilets available. These were unprecedented floods. They have shocked all of us: from government, to donors to the people, don't let anyone tell you otherwise," he explained.

As rains continue, the government of Malawi has said it will need more than $81-million (£54-million) to reach out to the people made homeless and cut off by flooding.

Heavy flooding has displaced hundreds of thousands of people in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, destroying homes and submerging whole villages in some areas. The catastrophic floods have also killed at least 200 people, drowning crops and washing away livestock.

Malawi is the worst affected of the three southeast African countries hit by heavy rainstorms, which started two weeks ago.

According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more downpours are forecast in Malawi and Mozambique, while torrential rains are expected in the southern regions of Tanzania as well as northern Zambia. 

For more information, pictures, case studies and interviews, please contact press line +44 (0)7889 631 613