Food aid supplies flow to flood-hit southern Malawi

MORE than 100 000 people have been displaced by flooding in Malawi, and scores have died there and in neighbouring Mozambique after weeks of rain, officials said yesterday.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said it planned to airlift more than 100 metric tons of food to Malawi to feed at least 77 000 people.

“Access to the hardest-hit areas to assess the situation has been extremely difficult as the floods have washed away many of the roads and bridges,” the WFP explained.

Districts in the country’s south, especially the Chikwawa and Nsanje districts, had been worst affected, the group said.

By Thursday night at least 48 people had died during the flooding,Malawian Vice-President Saulos Chilima said, adding that “several people are still missing”.

“Four bodies were pulled out of the water, but many more are still unaccounted for,” said Alex Mdoka of the Chikwawa district commission.

Tents have been set up for those left homeless, and many have found refuge with friends and neighbours whose homes survived the deluge, according to aid organisation Doctors Without Borders. The international medical organisation said that it was concerned that displaced people were also vulnerable to waterborne disease due to unsanitary conditions.

In neighbouring Mozambique, flooding has damaged the country’s main road connecting the north and south, and emergency services are using boats to reach flood victims. At least 38 people have died during heavy flooding there, according to Mozambi- TIDES High today . .12.50am, 12.55pm Tomorrow . . . . .1.38am, 1.46pm Low today . . . . .6.49am, 7.26pm Tomorrow . . . . .7.39am, 8.10pm Spring tides . . . . . . . . . . .Jan 20

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Feb 4 Neap Tides . . . . . . . . . . . .Jan 27

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Feb 12 SUN/MOON Sunrise today . . . . . . . . .5.53am Sunset today . . . . . . . . . . . .8pm Moon rises today . . . . . .2.46am Moon sets tomorrow . . .4.57pm can news agency AIM. The Zambezia province has been worst affected, where the Licungo River reached its highest levels since 1971.

The South African National Defence Force said it was sending troops and equipment to assist with disaster management in Mozambique. – Sapa-AP

PICTURE: EPA DELUGE: The Malawi government has declared half the country a disaster zone after floods killed at least 48 people, left 70 000 homeless, and destroyed bridges and roads.