UN rate Malawi floods worst in living memory
United Nations (UN) human rights experts have rated prevailing floods in Malawi as the worst in living memory and have appealed to the international community to rapidly respond with critical humanitarian aid and appropriate funding.
In a statement made available to The Nation, UN special rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Chaloka Beyani, special rapporteur on the right to food, Hilal Elver, and special rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Léo Heller, encouraged the international community to do everything possible to meet the current serious shortfall in funds and provision of essential aid, especially as only a quarter of the urgently required $81 million (about K36.5 billion) of a Preliminary Response Plan had been received to date.
Said Beyani: “The flooding has displaced large numbers of people and presents massive and complex challenges for governments and their humanitarian allies in the short, medium and longer term.
“Evacuation of affected populations should be undertaken where necessary to save lives and an effective humanitarian response is essential to address the needs of internally displaced people and others affected.”
Flooding has caused displacement of over 170 000 people, while an estimated 116 000 households have lost their crops and livestock. In Nsanje District alone, 79 people are confirmed dead with about 153 people still missing.
“The impact of flooding on food security poses immediate problems as well as potentially severe food shortages for months to come, as crops have been washed away and livestock lost,” warned Elver, who explained that the country’s poor rural communities had “lost everything and require early assistance to prevent hunger and malnutrition”.
According to an initial estimate, $3.4 million (about K1.5 billion) is needed to respond to urgent healthcare needs and prevent and control outbreaks of disease.
Heller pointed out that accessibility to clean water would be critical in the coming weeks and months to stave off the threat of disease.
