Vice President calls on people living in flood prone areas to move uplands

By Catherine Sefu – Mana

Vice President Everton Chimulirenji Saturday urged people living in flood prone areas to move uplands in order to mitigate possible loss of lives and property.Speaking at Chipasula Secondary School after touring some affected houses, Chimulirenji said it was disheartening to note that most people affected by the floods in Lilongwe are those who are staying in lowland areas just on or close to the river courses.He added that the most unfortunate thing was that the affected were usually the same people year in year out.Incessant rains in Lilongwe have led to floods in Ngomani, Mgona, Kaliyeka, Chipasula, Area 22 and Area 24 affecting 403 households, 1519 people leaving 63 houses completely damaged in the process.Said the Vice President: “With weather reports predicting that more rains will fall, there is need to move to safer and higher grounds away from the river courses to avoid loss of lives and property.”Chimulirenji assured the affected people of government’s support telling them that all their needs will be met and that no one would die of hunger or want.The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) and the Malawi Red Cross Society provided relief assistance to people affected by the floods in all the affected areas. The relief assistance includes food and non-food items such as kitchen utensils, rice, blankets, plastic sheets, beans, soya pieces and some cash.So far, there has only been one reported death at Mgona of a three-year-old child on Thursday which led Chimulirenji to lead the people in observing a one minute silence in honour of the departed soul.Chimulirenji also revealed that disasters especially hailstorms, rains and lightening, had affected people in 19 districts that include Dedza, Dowa, Lilongwe, Machinga, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Ntcheu and Phalombe.Both Lilongwe City Centre legislator, Alfred Jiya and Lilongwe City Mayor, Juliana Kaduya speaking at Mgona Orphanage Centre on Friday, hailed the Vice President for rushing to see for himself and to help the affected people saying that’s how things should be.The Department of Meteorological Services issued a warning a few days ago that the country will receive heavy rains with chances of floods in the central region and lakeshore districts.Heavy rains started falling from 31 December to 3rd January, 2020 causing flash floods resulting in a lot of damage.