Blantyre, Malawi, Jan. 16 (MaraviPost) _ Death toll in Malawi’s raging floods has climbed to 176 with hundreds others still missing especially in the southern Lower Shire Valley, Vice President Saulos Chilima confirmed Friday in Blantyre.
“It’s a very bad situation,” he said at a press conference in Blantyre after flying over the flooded valley in a military helicopter.
Chilima said over 200,000 people have been displaced after their houses were destroyed by the floods. He also said hundreds of hectares of crop fields and livestock, including cattle, goats, pigs and chicken, have also been washed away.
He said a joint army and police rescue mission is currently underway to rescue hundreds of marooned people whose villages have been flooded and have been surrounded by water.
“I flew over some parts of the Lower Shire but we could not find anywhere to land. It’s a big challenge we have before us,” he said.
But there was also a glimmer of good news. “We have just managed to rescue a woman who gave birth while trapped by the flood water. Both mother and baby are fine,” he said.
Chilima said several international and local organisation have responded to calls for assistance after President Peter Mutharika declared at least 15 of the 28 districts of the southern African country ‘disaster areas’
“But we still need more assistance. For example, we require some 3,777 tents to accommodate the displaced people,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chilima said at least 153 people are missing in the southernmost district of Nsanje – bordering Mozambique.-maravipost
