Blantyre, Malawi, Jan. 16 (MaraviPost) _Malawi president Peter Mutharika will visit areas hit by the recent heavy flooding and people affected by the disaster in the southern region today. Earlier in the week President Mutharika declared ten of the country’s 28 districts ‘disaster areas’ following devastating floods that have engulfed almost half of the southern African country.
These districts include the lakeshore district of Mangochi, where several houses were submerged under water last week, the eastern district of Zomba where a number of people were killed and several houses destroyed over the weekend and the southern district of Mulanje where on Tuesday nine people were killed by the floods.
Understanding the Magnitude of the floods President Mutharika also cancelled a trip to Mozambique to stay close to Manage the crisis.
“President will among other areas visit the people at Mpondasi in Mangochi district and Ulongwe in Balaka South” reads a statement released by State House’s acting press officer, Chikondi Juma.
Many people are feared dead with over 70 thousand people displaced by the floods in at least 15 districts of the country. The districts are Nsanje, Chikwawa, Phalombe, Zomba, Blantyre, Chiradzulu, Thyolo, Mulanje, Balaka, Machinga, Mangochi, Ntcheu, Salima, Rumphi and Karonga.
President Peter Mutharika has been commended by many for his leadership in handling the disaster, The President has appealed for donors and members of the International Community to urgently help the country in its rescue efforts.
The Malawi leader has also commended efforts and humanitarian assistance that has been rendered. He reiterated earlier calls for more assistance from the international community.
Mutharika has pleaded with local private sector as well as all fellow citizens of goodwill to offer their support to help alleviate the suffering on the part of people affected by the floods.
The President has also mobilized the Malawi Army and Police force to assist in rescue operations of those that have been marooned.
