The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) in the office of the President and Cabinet would like to update the general public on the status of disasters and response operations in the 2022/23 rainfall season.

As of Friday, 6th January; 2023, disasters; mainly stormy rains, floods, strong winds, heavy rains, halistorms and lightning; have affected 26 councils namely; Balaka, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Lilongwe District, Machinga, Mangochi District, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Mzuzu City, Neno, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntcheu, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Salima, Thyolo and Zomba City and Zomba District.

Cumulatively, 12, 978 households (approximately 58,401 people), have been affected. The death toll has risen from 42 (as reported in our previous update); to 49 this week. Lightning strikes have killed 28 people while 21 died due to collapsed walls following stormy rains and strong winds. So far, 105 people have sustained various degree of injuries. As indicated earlier on, the disasters have also caused damage to roads, schools and hospitals . The department has also received preliminary reports on damages caused by heavy rains, strong winds and stormy rains that have affected Mulanje, Likoma and Mchinji Districts; respectively.

Currently, the department has reached out to 9,228 households (approximately 41,526 people) with relief assistance which include food and non-food items namely; maize, family tents, housing units, kitchen utensils and plastic sheets for temporary roofing. Provision of relief assistance is on-going and the department will reach out to all the affected people as per the reports from affected councils.

The general public will be duly informed regarding the status of disasters and any related developments.