Southern Africa: Floods in Malawi and Tropical Storm hits Madagascar
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A classroom at the School for the Deaf in Morondava, Madagascar showing the damage caused by recent flash floods
© CBM/SEMAMO
Southern Africa has experienced adverse weather conditions in the past few weeks, with heavy rains causing severe flooding in parts of Malawi. Madagascar has been hit by the tropical storm, Chedza, bringing wind and heavy rains on the 16th January 2015.
Flooding in Malawi
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House half submerged in flood water at Maraka, Nsanje district, Southern Malawi
© CBM/FEDOMA
Malawi has experienced heavy rains for past few weeks which has led to severe flooding in many areas.
CBM has a dedicated Malawi Country Office and supports projects and programmes for people with disabilities since the early 1970s. CBM’s Emergency Response Unit has been closely monitoring and evaluating the impact of the floods and have been in touch with our partners in Malawi.
CBM has three partners in the flood affected districts in Southern and Central Malawi. None of the partners have reported any damages.
CBM has three partners in the flood affected districts in Southern and Central Malawi. None of the partners have reported any damages.
As of the WFP’s Malawi situational report no 2 released on 20th January 2015:
The number of people affected through damage to crops is estimated at 638,000 people (116,000 households) in 15 Floods hit districts.
264,000 people displaced
370,000 people in need of food assistance
The number of people affected through damage to crops is estimated at 638,000 people (116,000 households) in 15 Floods hit districts.
264,000 people displaced
370,000 people in need of food assistance
Key actions taken by CBM
1. CBM, its partners, and other NGO members of Disability working group are meeting the Department of Disability and Elderly Affairs on 21 January 2015 to identify key priority areas for action to ensure that the ongoing response is disability inclusive.
2. CBM has also shared information on making disaster response disability inclusive with various humanitarian actors including UN agencies.
3. CBM partners, MACOHA and FEDOMA have carried out quick assessments to identify the impact of floods on persons with disabilities and immediate needs.
2. CBM has also shared information on making disaster response disability inclusive with various humanitarian actors including UN agencies.
3. CBM partners, MACOHA and FEDOMA have carried out quick assessments to identify the impact of floods on persons with disabilities and immediate needs.
Next steps
CBM and partners will ensure that people with disabilities access relief aid:- food, non-food items, and health care needs in the two worst affected districts namely Nsanje and Chikwawa, Southern districts of Malawi.
We will also provide support to humanitarian organisations to include persons with disabilities in their responses.
We will also provide support to humanitarian organisations to include persons with disabilities in their responses.
Tropical Storm Chedza affects Madagascar
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Flood water receding after recent flash floods due to broken dam caused by tropical Storm in Morondava.
© CBM/SEMAMO
A tropical disturbance that has also affect southern Africa strengthened into a tropical storm as it passed over the Mozambique Channel on 15th January 2015.
When tropical storm Chedza passed over Madagascar the next day, it brought lashing winds and heavy rains that killed 14 people, destroyed or damaged more than 3,000 homes, and displaced 9,500 people.
When tropical storm Chedza passed over Madagascar the next day, it brought lashing winds and heavy rains that killed 14 people, destroyed or damaged more than 3,000 homes, and displaced 9,500 people.
CBM has been present in Madagascar since the late 1970s. Our Emergency Response Unit has been monitoring and evaluating the impact of the tropical storm in Madagascar, working closely with the CBM Madagascar office.
Three CBM partners, namely Semamo – the School for the deaf in Morondava, the SEJAFA School for the blind in Faratangana and the eye clinic in Ambohibao have been affected by the flash floods caused by the tropical storm.
The floods have damaged the buildings, stocked food, beds, mattresses and clothing of children with hearing and vision impairments studying at the two boarding schools. In addition, students and staff are also suffering from respiratory issues. The eye clinic has suffered physical damage to the fence and the incinerator.
As per the ECHO report on 21st January 2015:
Three CBM partners, namely Semamo – the School for the deaf in Morondava, the SEJAFA School for the blind in Faratangana and the eye clinic in Ambohibao have been affected by the flash floods caused by the tropical storm.
The floods have damaged the buildings, stocked food, beds, mattresses and clothing of children with hearing and vision impairments studying at the two boarding schools. In addition, students and staff are also suffering from respiratory issues. The eye clinic has suffered physical damage to the fence and the incinerator.
As per the ECHO report on 21st January 2015:
- 35 people dead, and 117,181 affected by the tropical storm including 44,389 displaced by Tropical Storm Chedza.
- In addition, 2,322 houses have been destroyed, 200 schools damaged, 8 health centres flooded
CBM’s involvement
CBM will address the immediate food, non-food items and health care needs of children with disabilities, teachers and support staff of the three CBM partners. The project will also include the repairs, rehabilitation and reconstructions work at the two schools and the eye clinic.
