Malawi

More than 52 million people in 18 countries across southern, eastern and central Africa are facing up to crisis levels of hunger as a result of weather extremes, compounded by poverty and conflict.

 

Oxfam will begin distributing lifesaving aid including water purification tablets and hygiene kits to some of the communities worst affected by Cyclone Idai over this weekend. 

Oxfam staff speak of desperation, loss of hope and home, people in treetops - as rains are still falling and waters rising in some areas.

Oxfam will be responding with water, sanitation services, food and other non-food items to people affected by Cyclone Idai that hit Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

The Malawi government has launched a Humanitarian Response Plan for people affected by drought, but lives could be at risk unless more money is found soon.

The international community must act swiftly and decisively on the Malawi Government’s “declaration of emergency” where people are facing worsening hunger because of El Nino-related drought and country-wide crop failures.

About 60 million people across the world face worsening hunger and poverty due to droughts and crop failures that have been exacerbated by the El Niño weather system in 2015/6. This short report gives a voice to some of the people that Oxfam is working with in Ethiopia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, El Salvador and Papua New Guinea.