natural disasters
natural disasters
Natural Disasters Threaten Malawi’s Food Security
Malawi's reputation for improving food production could be in peril, according to Lameck Masina’s analysis published on the All Africa website
Masina states that after years developing its capacity to feed itself, Malawi has recently suffered a series of devastating natural setbacks with thousands currently facing food shortages.
He says besides last year's erratic rains and drought which reduced the maize harvest (the country's staple) by seven percent, the Southern African country has recently been hit by severe floods, displacing an estimated 10 000 households across ten districts.
To read the article titled, “Washed away - Food security hit by natural disasters,” click here.Source:All AfricaMozambique Residents Evacuated After Floods
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Mozambique has collaborated with the government to assist in the evacuation of residents affected by the heavy rains.
Mozambican authorities say they have evacuated about 3 000 families affected by floods to higher ground, since yesterday.
UNDP's humanitarian coordinating officer in Mozambique, Casimiro Sande, says the flooding is caused by the high rain fall recorded in South Africa and other countries as Mozambique is in a downstream.
At least 40 people have been killed since the start of the rains.
To read the article titled, “UN assists Mozambique with evacuations after floods,” click here.Source:SABC NewsMaruleng Hit Hard by Floods
The Department of Human Settlements in Limpopo says that a total of 220 families have been affected by this week's floods in Maruleng.
The department spokesperson, Tseng Diale, says that according to a preliminary assessment, 101 families are in need of immediate shelter and tents are being provided for them.
Meanwhile, spokesperson for the Limpopo Department of Health, Kenny Mathivha, says the Mopani district - encompassing Baphalaborwa, Giyani, Letaba, Maruleng, and Tzaneen municipalities - was hardest hit by the flood.
To read the article titled, “Limpopo families hit by floods,” click here.Source:The CitizenNGO to Send Rescue Team to Japan
Rescue South Africa says a South African rescue team will leave for Japan to help with relief efforts following a 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that hit the country's east coast.
Rescue South Africa spokesperson, Ian Scher, says the organisation has put a team of a maximum of 50 people to go to the quake-hit north-eastern part of Japan where a tsunami struck the coast of Miyagi prefecture.
He states that: “This is largely funded by the private sector. People like Netcare have sponsored R1 million, Discovery have sponsored R500 000, Econet Wireless have sponsored R1 million, MTN R500 000, and Core Group have sponsored R250 000.”
To read the article titled, “Rescue SA to send team to Japan,” click here.Source:Independent OnlineHeavy Rain Puts Relief Agencies on Alert
Heavy rains and localised flooding across southern Africa from Angola to Madagascar are raising fears that the devastating floods of 2000 will be repeated, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Hein Zeelie, an OCHA humanitarian affairs officer based in Johannesburg, points out that, "All countries in contiguous southern Africa are expected to receive normal to above-normal rainfall between January and March 2011.
Zeelie warns that northern Zimbabwe, central Zambia, southern Malawi, central Mozambique and most of Madagascar are expected to receive above-normal rainfall.
To read the article titled, “Heavy rain puts relief agencies on alert,” click here.Source:All AfricaPlan to Beef Up Relief Effort in Haiti
The United Nations (UN) Stabilisation Mission in Haiti has announced that a Joint Operations Tasking Centre will start operating to coordinate the huge relief efforts in that country.
The mission also sought to clarify the position of the Haitian government and the urgent need that remains a daily reality for hundreds of thousands.
Tony Banbury of the UN mission says, "This is a critical component of the coordination structure, critical to ensure that the actual operational activities of the main actors on the ground are implemented in a fully planned, coherent and coordinated manner."
To read the article titled, “UN to beef up relief effort in Haiti,” click here.Source:SABC NewsMSF Report from Haiti
Surgical teams of the international medical charity, Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) are continuing to work round the clock to treat victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
Two MSF operating theatres have been opened in the grounds of one of the wrecked hospital in the city.
With patients being treated under makeshift shelters, doctors have been carrying out an average of 25 surgical operations daily. Now they are performing operations in an improvised operating theatre in a shipping container, where they hope to carry out another 20 procedures per day.
To read the article titled, “MSF report from Haiti,” click hereSource:Mail&Guardian
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