Taulo Flooding Report

Report on Floods that have displaced people in Taulo Introduction

There have been heavy rains from end of January to date which has caused a lot of damage to crop fields, roads, livestock, food and property. This problem has affected many parts of Malawi especially lowlands. The area of Chief Taulo is not spared. The place was visited today, 11 February, 2013after a call from Chief Taulo. This report highlights some notable challenges faced by the victims.

Government experts are collecting data to come up with statistics of the whole damage, evidenced by the District Commissioner’s representatives and the police officers that we met in the area. The information we were so much interested to gather was about critical needs that needs stakeholders to come in shortest term possible. Some community members have been displaced and have sought refuge at the Taulo Nursery School.

Some Statistics

There are 23 villages in Group Village Head Taulo. The most affected villages are Namboya, Khewa and Chinama. These are villages that surround the Taulo FVM Nursery School. 19 households with 51 individuals have been displaced because their houses are either damaged or filled with water and are inhabitable in short term. The structure constructed by FVM has been such a timely provision to the victims.

The individuals that are housed at the nursery school are categorised as follows:

Individuals under 18 years old: Individuals over 18 years old: Total... ... ... ..Females Males Females Males .....= 22 = 10 = 12 = 7 = 51

Among these 19 families, 7 of them are female headed households due to deaths of their husbands. Notably, Mercy Biziweck Maliyoti’s family (the lame child whom FVM bought wheel chair for) is also not spared. Village Head Namboya family is also among the displaced families.

   Roads connecting the villagers are destroyed which makes it even difficult for the community members to socialize and even work. The fields are full of water preventing people from working in the fields. The water logged fields lose fertility through sinking and wash-aways.

Figure 1: This is not a river but a road that leads to the nursery school

This was captured 12 hours after the it stopped raining, and someone may imagine how it was when it was heavily raining.

Figure 2: Mercy and her mother together with other displaced people

Figure 3: One of the houses that have been demolished, the villagers showing how it is on the other side

Most families have lost their Livestock like chickens, ducks, pigeons, etc since they were busy rescuing themselves in the heavy pouring.

Figure 4: This is not a river. It is a maize field

This is a sign that most people with struck by hunger this year until next year April assuming the climate will be favourable next rainy season

Figure 5: Village Head Namboya in his house after water had subsided

“Pamene timanyamuka kupita ku sukulu kuja, madzi anafika mu chiuno (The time we were relocating to the school, the water was as high as in the waste)”, said Village Head Namboya.

Figure 6: 19 families (51 people) living in Taulo Nursery School constructed by FVM

SOME BASIC NEEDS IDENTIFIED

Some basic urgent needs that have been identified are as follows:

• Plastic Plates 100
• Plastic Cups 100
• Spoons 100
• Plastic Buckets 20
• Maize (corn) 2,000kg
• Salt 40kg
• Beans 50kg
• Candles 20 pieces
• Matches 20 boxes
• Sugar 40kg
• Plastic Paper 200 metres
• Mats 20
• Soap 20 curtons

Please note that:

• The total cost of the above items is yet to be estimated since we came back late 
• There is hope that Ministry of health will assess sanitation issues since many people are residing at one place using two toilets 
  
• There is possibility of the number increasing as the it continues to rain
  

Conclusion

The people in the area need assistance in various ways, in the short-term, medium term and long term. They need immediate assistance in the line of the above list.