Cyclone floods hit Malawi
Wed, 8 Feb 2012 11:23 GMT
THOUSANDS of villagers have been forced to flee their homes after cyclone rains lashed a remote region of Malawi.
Aid is being flown into Nsanje District, on the border with Mozambique after roads were cut-off during the deluge.
Further rain is forecast as more than 6,000 people are housed in temporary shelters after their homes were swamped.
Children’s charity Plan International is looking to raise £125,000 to help families with food, shelter and school kits.
“Floods have disrupted livelihoods, displaced people, caused damage to infrastructure and brought misery to children and the community at large,” says Plan’s country director in Malawi, Bolaji Akinboro.
“The government is getting overwhelmed by the ever-increasing numbers and magnitude of different emergencies that the country is facing.”
A severe outbreak of malaria is a real fear for aid workers, prompting Plan to distribute 1,000 nets to families.
The charity will also look to provide cereal, bed mats and school equipment in a bid to minimize disruption to children’s lives.
“It’s a swampy area, thereby exposing children to various diseases, mainly malaria, as they have no insecticide treated nets for protection,” says Mr Akinboro.
“Unfortunately, the medical supply is also low which might lead to an increase in diseases within the area.”
For more information visit www.plan-uk.org
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