The Malawian government has appealed for international assistance to support communities affected by severe flooding, as torrential rains continue to batter the southern African country.
According to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs, at least 40 people have died nationwide, while thousands more have been displaced and left without shelter. Floodwaters have also caused widespread damage to infrastructure, including major roads, cutting off access to some areas.
Wilson Moleni, commissioner for disaster management affairs, said the scale of the disaster has overwhelmed national capacity. He described the situation as a major strain on an already fragile economy, stressing that Malawi cannot respond to the crisis alone.
Moleni noted that while some assistance has already been provided, continued heavy rainfall is driving up the number of affected people and increasing humanitarian needs across the country.
The floods come as Malawi grapples with a severe food crisis linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has left more than 4.5 million people in need of food assistance.
In October last year, President Arthur Peter Mutharika declared all 28 districts of Malawi disaster zones and appealed for international humanitarian support to address worsening conditions.
The country is still struggling to recover from the impact of Cyclone Freddy, which struck in 2023, killing at least 1,000 people, displacing around 2.5 million others and leaving about 500 people missing. More than three years on, Malawi continues to face economic and social fallout from the disaster