Disasters kill 15
The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) has said 15 people have died in natural disasters since the onset of rains in November.
In an update report on natural disasters since the onset of the rains, Dodma said 11 of the 15 were killed by lightning strikes.
The report said 15 238 households have been affected by floods, windstorms, fire, lightning and rainstorms.
Mchinji, where four people were killed on the same day by lightning strikes at Mkanda, is the worst hit while the other cases happened in Lilongwe, Mzimba, Chikwawa, Chitipa and Balaka, according to the report.
“In total, there are 15 deaths and 15 238 households who have been displaced and have their property damaged,” reads the report in part.
Dodma chief relief and rehabilitation officer Fyawupi Mwafongo said the figures might be the same as those recorded at the same time last year. He said the incidents are expected, especially at the onset of rains.
During one of his inspection tours to communities affected by natural disasters, Minister of Homeland Security Nicholas Dausi asked people to be extra careful and ensure that they are safe during the rainy season to minimise or avoid deaths caused by natural disasters.
The minister said this at Matapila Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mazengera in Lilongwe when he condoled the family of 38-year-old Loveness Mphezi who was struck by lightning last week.
Year in and year out, Malawi faces disasters particularly, floods, windstorms, dry spells and drought.
This year government has budgeted K68.5 billion ($94.1 million) for food insecurity response to help those affected with the natural disasters in the previous farming season.
A Post Disaster Needs Assessment conducted after the 2015 floods estimated damages and losses across different sectors at $335 million (about K246 billion) while the cost of recovery and reconstruction requirements were estimated at $494 million (about K363 billion).
A 2016 assessment of drought estimated damages and losses at $365.9 million (about K270.7 billion) while recovery requirements were projected at $500.2 million (K367.5 billion).
