Floods, droughts and strong winds have over the years caused continued talk about disasters in Malawi. This has left almost half of the 28 districts in the country prone to disasters. Predominantly, these disasters have been attributed to a lack of preparedness and recovery capacity and limited early warning systems.
Looking at how these natural disasters have negatively impacted the country’s economy and livelihood of the populous; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Malawi alongside the government has since the aftermath of Cyclone Idai in 2019 worked in enhancing communities’ resilience through multi-level intervention approaches.
These include the Inclusive Recovery Project and the Promoting Sustainable Partnerships for Empowered Resilience (PROSPER) program to avert large-scale flood damage in the country.
Under PROSPER, the Chinese government and UNDP provided $1,600,000 for recovery of flood-affected communities in Malawi to reconstruct houses and rehabilitate community markets, irrigation schemes, and community water points damaged during 2019 Cyclone Idai in Malawi.
With support from the Japanese government, UNDP Malawi also embarked on the construction of 200 weather and flood resilient houses for the most vulnerable flood-affected communities in Zomba and Phalombe districts.
UNDP Malawi went and supported in construction 5 Evacuation Centres in Chikwawa, Phalombe, Balaka, and Mangochi districts, each capacitated to accommodate more than 300 people in flood-prone areas.
The help that was done has proven to be beneficial in this time when the country has recently been hit hard with Cyclone Ana ; this is evident with the relief that people in the area of Group Village Headman Ng’anjo of Traditional Authority Jenala in Phalombe district where several people whose houses have been washed away have a sigh of relief at one of the evacuation centers constructed by UNDP.
In an interview with MIJ Online Agness Gwembere a mother of one child, who is amongst those seeking shelter at the facility recalls how her house fell amidst ravening floods exacerbated by heavy rains that fall for three consecutive days.
“It was Sunday, 23rd January 2022 when rains have begun continuously to Monday, 24th and it was on this day’s evening whilst taking supper with my family when I heard people running and wailing that floods are coming of which I immediately carried my baby and run for our dear lives to this evacuation center.”
“I came to this evacuation center with hope to be assisted as am waiting for the weather to settle down so I can reconstruct my house and am thankful that the center has been a safe harbor for the fact that we are being provided with food and a safe place to sleep as this facility was constructed systematically to constrain water from debilitating it, hence our security is very quiet assured here.”
However, Gwembere; highlighted the ray of hope that these evacuation Centres have brought about compared to the previous years when people would flock to Milema Catholic Primary school where sexual exploitation was the order of the day as space was limited compared to now with the coming of UNDP shelters.
In his remarks UNDP Malawi Programme Analyst for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, Sothini Nyirenda said the organization works in advancing government agendas in diverse sectors including during natural disasters like tropical storm Ana.
Among others, Nyirenda attributed that they offer Support on Disaster Risk Management Information Systems UNDP Malawi in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office is also supporting Government, through the Department of Disaster Management (Dodma) on information management systems and mechanisms aimed at strengthening the humanitarian coordination in the country.
Nyirenda said; “Appreciating the fact that floods continue to pose serious threats to life and property across the country, we have been assisting Malawi government to help build the capacity of key actors to improve weather and climate information, early warnings to disaster-prone communities to save lives and safeguard livelihoods.”
Additionally, he said; “The initiative is generating important analyses for planning and real-time incident reporting during disasters which helps in ensuring timely response to affected populations and to promote resilience.”
“The system is also helping to digitally track disaster information, helping to increase the speed, accuracy, and reliability of data toward improving disaster risk reduction in the country. The initiative has been rolled out in Balaka, Mangochi, Phalombe, and Chikwawa districts and covers 2.58 million people”
Following the disaster, President Lazarus Chakwera declared a State of National Disaster on 26th January 2022 and appealed for support from donors, partners including UN Agencies, Non-governmental organizations, and well-wishers towards people affected by tropical storm Ana.