Malawi Government’s Floods Emergency Response Plan is facing a K11.7 billion deficit as Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) has mobilised just K384.6 million of the budgeted K12.7 billion.
Speaking in Nkhotakota yesterday during the decommissioning of 13 camps that hosted people displaced by recent floods, Dodma Commissioner Wilson Moleni said the plan primarily targets the district hardest hit by floods three weeks ago and will run for three months.
He said Dodma is engaging partners to secure the remaining funds.
“Although the survivors are leaving the camps, Dodma will continue supporting them up to March. We know the impact of the floods is huge and that while we cannot meet all your needs, we are providing items to support daily life,” said Moleni.
To date, displaced households have received maize, beans, salt, buckets and heavy polythene sheets for roofing their structures.
The decommissioning of the camps follows requests from some of the survivors for recovery packages that would allow them to return home and resume livelihoods.
In an interview yesterday, one of the survivors Samuel Pensulo welcomed the decision and pointed out that prolonged camp life compromises productivity and children’s education.
“If we don’t go now, we cannot cultivate, we will have no food and we will remain dependent on government support,” he said.
Another survivor Agnes Petulo said life in the camps was difficult and that families need safe, permanent housing.
“We cannot live forever in tents on the ground. We need proper homes,” she said.
Eighty-year-old Zelifa Phiri, whose home was destroyed by the floods, said she has no alternative, but to build a makeshift shelter for her family.
“We still need people to hold our hands. I have no one to rely on,” she said.
Group village head Mwazandula said traditional leaders will help to provide land for displaced families, but warned against selling relief items.
“Those found selling will be removed from the beneficiary list,” he said.
Dodma is also grappling with a K71 billion deficit in its Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme, having raised K138 billion of the required K209 billion.
