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Published on
15.03.2019 at 12:54
by
AFP
"We are just sleeping on the floor in the tents," said Mary Amidu, a 28-year-old mother who, like thousands of other Malawians, fled her flood-ravaged home.
"It's a camp, the situation is disastrous. You just found a little space in the tent with your family and go home.
His village is just 10 kilometers from the border with Mozambique, next to the west bank of the Shire River, which erupted after days of torrential rains.
In Malawi, at least 56 people were killed as a result of flash floods and the government estimates that around 83,000 people have been displaced.
The sea last week invaded her house so quickly that the young widow had to scramble to put her family safe.
"The floods came very quickly and we did not have time to save anything, most of my property was flooded," she said. "What was important was saving lives."
They are currently in the emergency camp in Bangula, southern Malawi, near the Mozambique-affected border of Tropical Cyclone Idai late Thursday, cutting the coastal town of Berea.
"Although we have food, we do not have any cooking utensils to prepare it because everything has been lost," said Amidu, who said he feared a long stay at the camp as the waters began to fall. out.
– 'No other choice & # 39; –
"We can not go back soon because the water has not decreased and the house has been destroyed. We will stay around the camp until the situation normalizes. We do not have any other choice. "
Pilirani Andulu walked 15 km to the camp after the collapse of his house and was forced to sleep outdoors with his two year old daughter because the tents were full.
The lack of blankets and mosquito nets means her child is exposed to mosquitoes, malaria and cold.
Relief officer Humphrey Magalasi fought to keep the 21 camps open to the crisis.
"We have huge gaps in resources such as food and non-food items," he told AFP. "What we desperately need right now is food, tents, medicine and mosquito nets."
1,700 households had settled in Bangula camp as of Thursday.
Until now, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs has only received 5,000 bags of rice provided by China.
At Bangula Airfield, Magalasi also sent food and emergency supplies to flood – affected areas, including Makhanga, 65 km from Bangula.
– "Accessible by boat or plane" –
"We are transporting supplies by plane to Makhanga, where about 2,000 households have been affected," he said.
"Because of the floods, the area is only accessible by boat or plane. We intend to airlift 600 bags of rice and other non-food items to Makhanga. "
At least 56 people died in flood-affected areas on Wednesday, according to the government, while 577 were wounded and three others missing.
"Most displaced families live in camps. So far, 187 camps have been installed in the affected districts, "said the government in a statement.
"Assessments to determine the extent of damage in the 14 affected districts (out of the 28 in Malawi) are still ongoing."
The floods also caused extensive material damage, including roads and crops, which forced President Peter Mutharika to declare the state of disaster.
An AFP correspondent found extensive damage in cornfields, also known as maize, located around Bangula. The destruction could potentially wreak havoc in the April and May harvest.
The country's Department of Climate Change and Weather Services warned Malawians to expect more rain.
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