Flooding in southern Malawi. Photo credit: UMC Malawi

March 2019

There’s an image that has been making the rounds on social media. It is a bridge that we have crossed a number of times. It is the main way in and out of the southern regions of Malawi. It is large enough that it will survive but it is dangerous to cross at the moment due to severe flooding in the area.

The most recent reports put the number of affected at 250,000. That is likely best guestimate considering that Malawi has a hard time keeping track of its population at the best of times.

Now the really difficult part begins. Close to half a million people live in compromised housing, many with contaminated water and without adequate food. The population of Malawi is incredibly young: 46% of the population is under 15, so that half a million includes about 200,000 children.

Getting relief to the flooded area is complicated by at least two factors. First, it isn’t like there are warehouses nearby filled with necessary supplies. When an entire country lives close to the margin, there are no surplus essentials that are not already getting used. There is no ocean access for large quantities of goods. The closest “international” airport recently had some flights suspended in/out of it because of its safety. It is open now but still, not a major hub. And driving is very difficult. So, no access to necessary goods and difficult circumstances to get them there. This will require complicated planning.

Second, while there are lots of NGOs and implementing organizations on the ground here, this is an extraordinary event. Organizations can only respond when they know what is going on and that still isn’t clear. There are very few helicopters in the country for instance. Getting to some of these places is hard. Then, once they assess they can then appeal to the broader international community. Once the large organizations step in with emergency funding then things will start to move along but they are a few days from that yet.

The past September both the Moderator (Rev. Daniel Cho) and the General Secretary (Rev. Ian Ross McDonald) of the Presbyterian Church in Canada visited CARD projects in Nsanje (the heart of the flooding). The PCC is a member of the ACT Alliance and has supported CARD’s efforts in the past. The delegation visited a solar irrigation project for small scale farmers. These men were the executive of a larger group of farmers:

These are the people who will have to give local leadership for months and years to come. They already are. CARD helps them lead better.

The old adage that if you give a person a fish they eat for a day but if you teach them to fish they eat forever, is true. In relief it is not either/or. It needs to be both/and. People need to eat now; people need long term efforts to rebuild and make a better life. Donating to either is great.

Here is the link to donate to CARD through the ACT Alliance supported by Presbyterian World Service & Development.

Please remember southern Malawi in your prayers.