The extent and severity of the current flooding in Malawi overwhelm relief organizations, which are struggling to respond in areas that aren’t normally prone to such natural disasters — and where they have no presence.
The most inundated districts are located in the lower regions of the country: Nsanje and Chikwawa in the southwest, and Phalombe and Zomba in southeastern Malawi. The total number of displaced people in these areas combined exceeded 70,000, according to initial estimates by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
But there are also areas near Lake Malombe and in the country’s northern regions, such as Karonga district, which have been affected by the deluge.