US Provides $3 Million to WFP in Response to Malawi Floods
Lilongwe – The United States Government has contributed $3 million to the emergency response to Cyclone Idai in Malawi. The funds, provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Food for Peace, will support immediate food needs in the worst-affected areas of the country. They will cover cash-based assistance to flood-affected people as well as early recovery efforts.
“The US is committed to supporting Malawians who’ve been affected by the floods and fast-tracking recovery efforts,” USAID Malawi Director Littleton Tazewell said. “The US can count on the long-standing expertise of partners like WFP to provide essential assistance after this disaster.”
More than 860,000 people have been affected in 15 districts, according to the Department of Disaster Management and Preparedness (DoDMA). Some 60 died and more than 600 people were injured when the cyclone stuck Malawi last month. Nearly 87,000 displaced people are believed to be living in 173 camps.
“We’re thankful for the continuous support of the American people,” said WFP Malawi Country Director Benoit Thiry. “We’re working around the clock to assist people facing hardship. This timely contribution will enable WFP to step up cash assistance to people affected by the floods and begin early recovery activities.”
The U.S. funds will support the 2019 Floods Response Plan through the provision of cash-based transfers in the six severely affected districts of Machinga, Nsanje, Chikwawa, Phalombe, Chiradzulu and Zomba which have been declared national disaster sites. A total of 41,000 households will receive a monthly transfer of cash in line with prevailing market prices.
WFP’s Complementary Productive Asset Creation program is regarded as key to promoting early recovery from floods – it does this through asset creation and rehabilitation work, providing affected households with cash-based transfers for the purchase of food and agricultural inputs. The approach is designed to support vulnerable households and enable them to rebuild their livelihoods while strengthening their capacity to withstand extreme weather events.
The United States is the largest donor to WFP humanitarian and development programs in Malawi, contributing over $28 million in 2018/2019.
About WFP | The United Nations World Food Programme – saving lives in emergencies and changing lives for millions through sustainable development. WFP works in more than 80 countries around the world, feeding people caught in conflict and disasters and laying the foundations for a better future. For more information about WFP and its work in Malawi visit: www1.wfp.org/countries/malawi or follow us on Twitter @WFP_media or @WFP_Malawi
About USAID | On behalf of the American people, USAID promotes and demonstrates democratic values abroad and advances a free, peaceful and prosperous world. In support of America’s foreign policy, the U.S. Agency for International Development leads the U.S. Government’s international development and disaster assistance through partnerships and investments that save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people emerge from humanitarian crises and progress beyond assistance.
