Emergency Appeal for Flood victims in Malawi – Cyclone Freddy

PROGRAMME LOCATION (if applicable): Malawi (Southern Region of Malawi)

DATES COVERED: 15th February, 2023 to 13th March 2023

SITREP NUMBER: EA 07/2023

SUBMITTED BY: Caritas Malawi

  1. SITUATION OVERVIEW

This section should briefly introduce the context. At the onset of the disaster this includes the nature of the disaster or the crisis (when, what, where, who) and the main needs that should be addressed. Once the response is being implemented, this includes the main context changes and their impact on the response. In this section you may consider including:

 

The southern region of Malawi and other parts of the northern region have experienced floods between January and March following heavy rains and of recent Cyclone Freddy which hit Malawi on 12 March 2023. The Southern region, especially in Blantyre district and the surrounding districts as at March 13th has been the worst hit with many houses and other infrastructure collapsing, lives and livestock lost, many people injured among many others. On 13 March 2023, the President of Malawi also declared the state of disaster in southern Malawi following the cyclone. The floods and the cyclone have come at a time when the country is already experiencing a nation-wide Cholera Outbreak that is a national public health priority surpassing COVID 19. There is a high positive correlation between the floods and the rising cases of cholera. While this is the case, the effects of Cyclone Freddy are anticipated to continue for some days and may even go to other districts in the central and northern region. Refer below the weather update and experts reports by the Malawi Government Department of Disaster Management Affairs as at 13 March 2023.

 

Caritas Malawi, with support from Trocaire Prepositioned fund (amounting to 10,000 EURO) continues to support some of the affected households in Phalombe district following a series of flash floods and effects of the cyclone and is now raising an appeal for more support in all the affected districts.  The support needed includes both food and non-food items like Maize floor, beans, cooking oil, Blankets, Buckets, Chlorine, kitchen utensils among others.

 

  • Key data on affected populations with heavy/stormy rains so far

 

In total about 6,148 households have been affected with 99 deaths have been recorded with 16 people reported missing and 39 camps set. Currently, the affected district councils are conducting assessments to establish the extent of damage and assisting all those in need. In summary for each district as at 13 March 2023, the following are the recorded cases:

 

  • Blantyre District recorded 85 deaths and 134 have sustained various degree of injuries, 16 people missing and that 300 households (approximately 1,350 people) people have been affected out of which 46 households (approximately 207 people) have been displaced and have sought refuge at Manja Camp and Naotcha Primary School.

 

  • In Blantyre City, the city council has recorded 10 deaths, with nine registered in Ndirande Township.

 

  • In Chikwawa, 1,112 households (approximately 5,004 people) have been displaced with one death and three injuries recorded. Currently, six camps have been set in the district.

 

  • Nsanje recorded 1,300 households (approximately 5,850 people) displaced with one death recorded and five camps set.

 

  • Chiradzulu reported 170 households (approximately 765 people) affected, with two deaths and two injuries recorded.

 

  • In Thyolo District, the council reports that 11 households (approximately 50 people) have been displaced and that two camps have been set,

 

  • Phalombe has in total recorded 3,063 (1502Male headed and, 1561 Female headed) affected, 3 injuries and 14 camps set.

 

  • Mangochi has recorded about 200 households affected

 

  • living conditions

Living conditions for the affected areas continues to be in bad state with many houses completely and partially destroyed others submerged in water, sanitary facilities like toilets destroyed leaving a lot of people with no access to toilets and other sanitary facilities which may lead to outbreak of waterborne diseases like cholera, livestock and crop fields washed away, school roofs blown away, some health facilities submerged in water leaving no or completely access, many people are in camps among many others. The loss of many lives has also left the community stressed and many are still living in fear. Access to service lines like water supply, electricity and internet has also been heavily affected which is likely to affect many businesses and other socio-economic activities.

 

Note that disaggregated data is yet to be updated

  • relevant data (e.g. ethnicity, religion)
  • severe malnutrition rates, vaccination coverage, outbreaks and epidemics. Include key monitoring indicators such as the Crude Mortality Rate (CMR) and Under Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) if available.

High correlation with rise of cholera cases and deaths especially as search rescue is continuing

  • any relevant changes that may affect the Caritas response (e.g. anticipated displacements, changing needs)

Cyclone Freddy is likely to cause more damage and affect more households across most of the southern region districts and other regions. There are fears that people have not been warned adequately about the oncoming cyclone. Caritas Malawi is thus engaging partners for possible support to continue raising awareness among other support. Rescue is a challenge as it needs specialized equipment is some cases where flooding has been intense and currently Malawi Defence Force and other rescue agencies are on the ground but the demand is so overwhelming. Phalombe for instance has raised a need for support by the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) to assist with rescuing using choppers and special trained personnel.

  • Security/political situation
  • Security level (e.g. UN level) if appropriate – Minimal risk
  • Security incidents (in the local team) and major threats to the affected population

Women and girls at risk of abuse during the disaster and there is need to strengthen security systems at community (Community policing) and district level (Police formation)

  • Context changes (effective or notified) and their impact on the affected population and local Caritas response

Nothing significant anticipated

  1. CARITAS RESPONSE

Main developments in terms of:

  • relief provided by Caritas (local Caritas and other CI Member Organisations)

Relief items (Buckets, plates and cups, wrappers and chlorine) have been provided to 160 affected households in Phalombe district and prepositioned items are expected to benefit 75 households in any of the districts that may be hit at the earliest.

  • Strategic orientation/sectors of intervention – Caritas Malawi is still in engagement with district level clusters in the vulnerable districts to plan on preparedness and effecting warning systems. Shelter, food security and WASH remain the key priority clusters but there is very low indication of prepositioned support. Disaster response remains mainly supported by donors with no local allocations in budget processes.
  • Changes in the response and rationale behind them – Nothing at this point
  • partnerships – Trocaire is currently the partners which has supported caritas Malawi to mitigate impact but the anticipated demand remains too high
  • funding – Trocaire has since provided $10,000 to Caritas Malawi as prepositioned funds of which $6000 has already been used to support 160 households and $4000 earmarked for prepositioned relief items
  • Human resources (i.e. training sessions, scaling up, staff support from other CI MOs) – Caritas Malawi has personnel at both national and district level that have been trained in SPHERES Humanitarian standards as well as Core humanitarian standards coupled with safeguarding and protection. The team is best placed to provide technical assistance in delivery of response initiatives.
  • Awareness raising/advocacy initiatives, if applicable. – Remains limited due to funding constraints but radios owned by the Church and other print media outlets have since been used and using other church structures, communities are reached with alerts and other relevant messages.
  1. COORDINATION

Main outcomes of coordination meetings including:

  • coverage and gaps in the response – Limited coverage in only a few TAs due to funding constraints.
  • important decisions affecting the response – High level of technical coordination with district teams
  • planned visits by CI MOs or the CI General Secretariat and the purpose of these

 

Caritas Malawi is working in collaboration with relevant government departments at both national and district level and other stakeholders working in the target areas. Caritas Malawi through the Humanitarian National Committee which it is a member, is also continuously engaging other partners including caritas in-country partners like Trocaire and CRS and other partners like SCIAF and Caritas Australia.

 

  1. MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS – (Pictures yet to be shared)

 

  • human interest stories
  • photos
  • interviews, quotes by key local staff
  • additional media coverage/visibility of the Caritas response

 

  1. PLEDGES AND CONTRIBUTIONS

 

  • latest update on pledges and contributions, including in-kind contributions (you may want to include the pledges and contributions table contained in the financial report format)

So far, the in-country caritas partners – i.e. CRS, Trocaire and SCIAF has shown interest to support though they have not yet made any pledges.

  1. KEY CONTACTS

 

  • local Caritas project manager/coordinator, communication officer and spokesperson (if applicable).

 

Chimwemwe Sakunda Ndhlovu

Caritas Malawi national Coordinator

Tel: +265 999303710

Email: chimwemwenkosi@gmail.com; caritasmalawi@ecmmw.org

 

 

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