http://www.malawivoice.com/2019/03/09/apm-declares-state-of-disaster-cut-short-northern-region-visit/?fbclid=IwAR2WTjKuRSdgqxERVXvaop7C3d-bXcp2fe8DLf5NSh3yz96oKsBSjTZCY7Q
8th March 2019 President Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika has declared State Of Disaster in districts affected by floods.
So far 23 people have been confirmed dead, 12 are missing and 29 have been injured with thousands rendered homeless due to collapsed houses and roads and bridges damaged.
It has been heartbreaking to wake up to the news of houses falling on people as they slept and to hear how a family of children aged 6, 8 and 9 tragically perished in their beds in our neighbouring district. 24 homes have already been reported destroyed in our area – in the village of Chilambe alone which is the local area to Shine Village. Shine is taking families into the resource center for shelter. The team works with the chiefs in the region to help the most vulnerable families and emergency meetings will inform the way forward. Our region of Zomba District will be greatly impacted as many homes are built using unfired bricks made from mud. ( see the picture) as they do not have money to buy wood to fire the bricks to make them strong. Many homes have grass roofs as iron sheets are too expensive. They do not stand up to heavy rainfall and the water seeps quickly into the bricks. The homes simply collapse. In 2015 we were hit by the worst floods in over a decade and we found people taking refuge in outside kitchens. This years the rains have hit the whole country so we are preparing for the worse and rain is forecast to continue next week.
We have opened an appeal for supporters to donate around the world. We plan to buy maize and plastic sheets to support the most vulnerable.
Visit to donate https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/floodkuntumanji2019
Relief organisations are providing aid and temporary shelters to 2,100 people in the southern district of Nsanje alone with many more sheltering in schools. Many roads have been destroyed which mean that villages may remain cut off for days.
Climate Change – Paulo Ceppi, of the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London, agreed it was inevitable that climate change would lead to more severe storms. “There is a direct link between global warming and cyclone intensity.
Malawi’s floods can seem a long way off – it’s just a tiny Nation away from sight – but with half the population under 15yrs and one million orphaned, 72,500 people living in Kuntumanji who are all subsistence farming trying to earn a living with 1 in 6 having lost parents, many supporting their siblings – the need must be addressed quickly.
Shine brick building project which was recently set up will form part of the relief work. An investment would help to make bricks at zero cost, which could be then donated to families in need. If you wish to help please visit https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/brickmaking
Please pray for wisdom and strength for our team at this time.
“We’ve been overwhelmed with grief; come now and overwhelm us with gladness. Replace our years of trouble with decades of delight. Let us see your miracles again, and let the rising generation see the glorious wonders you’re famous for. O Lord our God, let your sweet beauty rest upon us and give us favor. Come work with us, and then our works will endure, and give us success in all we do.” Psalms 90:15-17 TPT
Latest news report ( Telegraph 2019/03/12/) Heavy flooding kills 45 people displaces 15000 in Malawi
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