One of the world’s poorest countries, Malawi suffers each year from floods. But the recent flooding that inundated large swathes of the country is unprecedented; the rains came earlier and the floodwaters took longer to recede.
International aid agencies are providing emergency relief to affected population, but even they are now finding themselves overwhelmed. While they have prepared for annual flooding and have prepositioned supplies, they did not anticipate that they would have to respond in areas that normally remain unaffected.
The floods didn’t just demonstrate the effects of climate change on one of the world’s most vulnerable countries, but they also brought to light the need to develop aid programs that take local contexts into account.
About the author
Daphne Davies
Daphne Davies is a London-based freelance journalist and consultant with more than 30 years' experience in international development. She has worked with the U.N., the European Union, national governments and global civil society organizations, including Amnesty, WWF and LDC Watch. Her expertise is in monitoring government policies in relation to international cooperation. Her interests are in sustainability, social and economic matters, women and least developed countries.
