Country: Malawi Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. Description of the Event Date of event 27-03-2026 What happened, where and when? In early January, Nkhotakota District experienced its first wave of devastating floods, triggered by heavy rainfall exceeding 285 mm in a single day. The floods destroyed homes, farmland, and infrastructure, leaving communities vulnerable and struggling to recover. This initial disaster marked the beginning of a prolonged crisis that would intensify in the months ahead. Furthermore on 5–6 January 2026, the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) issued forecasts warning of extreme rainfall across several districts. These alerts reached thresholds that triggered preparedness measures, including the activation of the Malawi Red Cross Society’s Simplified Early Action Protocol (sEAP) in Salima District. While Salima was prioritized for anticipatory action, Nkhotakota remained highly exposed and at risk. On 20 January 2026, Nkhotakota was struck by a second, more severe wave of flooding. This compounded the destruction from December, hitting communities that had not yet recovered. The floods displaced 2,132 households (10,912 people) into 14 camps, caused 12 deaths, 39 injuries, and 2 missing persons, and inflicted widespread damage on homes, schools, health facilities, WASH systems, and crops. The scale of destruction created urgent humanitarian needs and highlighted the district’s chronic vulnerability. By 21 January 2026, government assessments confirmed the extensive damage in Nkhotakota. Recognizing the severity of the situation, the Government of Malawi formally addressed a request for support to the Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) on 4 February 2026. This appeal aimed to ensure the rapid scale-up of life-saving assistance to affected households. In February 2026, the MRCS launched a Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) Response in Nkhotakota. Through this intervention, 1,425 households received cash distributions of MK90,000 each, helping families meet immediate needs and begin restoring livelihoods. While impactful, the response was limited compared to the scale of displacement and destruction, leaving significant gaps in humanitarian coverage. On 15th March, the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services issued a Heavy Rainfall Warning Update on 15 March 2026, valid from 16 to 18 March 2026, noting that a low-pressure system would bring heavy rainfall across lakeshore areas and the southern region. This forecast materialized, resulting in continuous rainfall during the stated period, which led to localized flash flooding in saturated, low-lying areas. Districts most affected included Nkhotakota, Salima, Blantyre, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, and Mulanje, with additional flooding risk in Chikwawa and Nsanje due to runoff from highlands. Rainfall exceeded 100mm in some areas, intensifying flood potential. Residents were advised to avoid crossing flooded rivers, stay clear of low-lying zones, and remain cautious during thunderstorms, particularly in landslide-prone districts of the Southern Highlands. From this advisory, more districts were affected than those which were mentioned in the warning by DCCMS. Between 15 and 18 March 2026, Malawi started reporting nationwide flooding, affecting 23 councils, including Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Dedza, Machinga, Mangochi, Salima, Zomba, and others. In total, 69,088 households (310,896 people) were affected, with 6,155 households displaced into 84 camps. The floods caused 34 deaths and 197 injuries in Mangochi, Machinga, with figures expected to rise as assessments continued in inaccessible areas. This nationwide disaster compounded earlier impacts in Nkhotakota and other districts, stretching response capacity across the country. This inter-agency assessment affirmed these figures On 25 March 2026, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) issued an official update confirming the scale of impact across the affected councils. The department appealed for US$10 million (≈K17 billion) to meet immediate humanitarian needs, restore basic services, and initiate early recovery. This marked the latest step in mobilizing coordinated humanitarian response and resource mobilization.

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