Zimbabwe has delivered the first consignment of humanitarian assistance to Malawi following the Southeast African nation’s appeal for internatiol support. Hon. Dr. George Chaponda received the aid on behalf of President Arthur Peter Mutharika from Ambassador Dr Nancy Saungweme.
Malawi Aid Arrives As Flood Crisis Deepens
According to a post on X by Malawi’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Nancy Saungweme presented the shipment to Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Dr. George Chaponda. The aid was received on behalf of President Arthur Peter Mutharika, highlighting Malawi–Zimbabwe solidarity amid the disaster.
The Malawi government has called for additional international assistance as heavy rains devastate communities. The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) reports that at least 40 people have died, and thousands have been displaced or rendered homeless.
“Nation is heavily bleeding following this calamity that’s befallen upon us,” said Wilson Moleni, Commissioner for DoDMA. “As a nation, we are overwhelmed by the rising daily needs of the affected people. Our economy is already overburdened. We can’t manage this situation on our own. We therefore appeal to our development partners to come to our rescue so that they can complement our efforts.”
Moleni added that while support has been provided, ongoing rains are increasing the number of flood victims. The rising numbers are creating further urgency for humanitarian assistance across affected districts.
UN and Partners Scale Up Emergency Response
The United Nations and its partners are supporting Malawi’s government-led response to the disaster. Agencies including WFP, UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, and UN Women have delivered food, clean water, medical supplies, and hygiene kits to affected populations.
“Thousands of people have been affected by the floods: from the little girl wanting to be in school and play, to her mother needing medical attention, and her father who stayed behind trying to save their harvest,” said UN Resident Coordinator Mia Seppo. “The UN launched its response almost immediately after the floods began and continues to provide support to save lives and meet basic needs.”
Additional technical and coordination support is being provided to DoDMA by OCHA and UNDAC teams. The UN is also assessing damage to crops and livestock, with around 638,000 people affected, and planning measures to restore food production.
Reprogrammed funds from donors including the UK, US, Germany, Norway, EU, and Ireland have enabled rapid relief operations. Online contributions can support the Humanitarian Window of the Malawi One UN Fund.
Historical Context And Food Insecurity
Malawi is still recovering from Cyclone Freddy in 2023, which killed over 1,000 people and displaced 2.5 million others. The country is also facing severe food shortages, with more than 4.5 million people requiring aid due to El Niño-induced crop failures.
President Mutharika declared all 28 districts a state of disaster in October last year. Previous international humanitarian responses demonstrate the importance of coordinated support during emergencies. UNDP, for example, provided clean water to 23,000 Somali communities using solar-powered systems.
World Central Kitchen has also provided rapid relief in disaster zones, such as during wildfires in Chile, delivering meals and emergency support to affected populations.
