Malawi Seeks International Support to Mitigate Impact of Nationwide Flooding

The Malawian government has appealed for international assistance as torrential rains continue to trigger severe flooding across the country, worsening the suffering of affected communities.

According to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), at least 40 people have been killed, while thousands have been displaced and left homeless.

The floods have caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including major roads, cutting off several parts of the country and hampering relief efforts.

DoDMA Commissioner Wilson Moleni said Malawi is overwhelmed by the growing needs of flood victims and called on development partners for urgent support.

She noted that the nation is struggling to cope with the rising demands of affected communities and that the economy has been heavily burdened by the disaster, adding that the country cannot shoulder the crisis alone.

While acknowledging the assistance already received, she noted that continued heavy rainfall has led to a steady increase in the number of victims, further stretching limited resources.

The flooding comes at a time when Malawi is facing a critical food shortage caused by El Niño-induced weather conditions, which have left more than 4.5 million people in need of food aid.

In October last year, President Arthur Peter Mutharika declared all 28 districts disaster zones and appealed for humanitarian support.

The country is still recovering from Cyclone Freddy, which struck in 2023, killing at least 1,000 people and displacing about 2.5 million others. Nearly 500 people were reported missing after the storm.

Three years later, Malawi continues to struggle to rebuild its economy and infrastructure following the devastating impact of the cyclone.