MALAWI: Catholic Bishops Call for Support For Floods Victims
A village completely submerged in flood water
The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), an umbrella body of Catholic Bishops in Malawi has pleaded for support for thousands of Malawians who are injured, missing, displaced and homeless due to the devastating floods that recently hit the southern and central Malawi.
The pathetic incident happened due to severe weather which led to heavy rains accompanied by strong winds from 5th to 7th March, 2019. This was due to deep low pressure area in the neighbouring country, Mozambique, as forecasted by Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services of the country.
In a statement released by ECM on 9th March 2019, the Bishops join the nation in mourning the deaths of 45 lost lives and also regret the damage to property and livestock due to the floods.
“We are deeply concerned as an institution which works mainly with the rural communities that the most affected are the poor Malawians, some of whom were already struggling to meet basic needs. While we struggle together to respond to the disaster which has befallen us, we appeal to all Catholics and people of good will, donor agencies and our International development partners to spare the little they might have to support our brothers and sisters who are trapped in this catastrophic condition,” reads the Bishops’ statement.
uplands in search of shelter
The Bishops have commended the Head of State, Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika, for declaring the floods a National Disaster, which they say would help to pour in a lot of good will and support from donor partners and treat the disaster as a matter of urgency.
Among other things, food, shelter, medicines, safe water and other basic needs are the immediate help needed to support the floods victims who are staying in evacuation centres. “This is about human life, human dignity and human rights. It is about the very reason we exist as a church, standing for those in need. Our hearts are heavy to lose human life in such devastating circumstances; we are in a middle of crisis,” continues the Bishops’ statement.
The relief and development arm of the Catholic Church in the country, CADECOM, and other humanitarian stakeholders are still assessing the extent of the damage caused. As the story went to press, the number of deaths had increased to 45, with 577 people injured, 147,958 households, representing 739,790 people have been displaced.
According to CADECOM, the most affected districts include Nsanje, Chikwawa, Zomba, Mulanje, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Phalomba, Blantyre, Neno, Mwanza, Dedza, Balaka and Mangochi.
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By: ECM’s Stella Zulu
