Disaster Risk Management (DRM)
Disaster Risk Management in Malawi
Overall Objective - To understand the disaster specifics in Malawi, the history and types of hazards
Specific Objectives - By the end of this session, participants will: Appreciate and understand how Malawi as a country is affected by disasters in the recent times and Understand most common disasters in Malawi.
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The community members in groups discuss how disasters affect development of the country; what disasters are most common in the country and their area? What disasters impact the greatest number of people? Who is affected the most? What are the efforts of government in reducing disaster risk? What are the efforts of communities in reducing disaster risk? Community thoughts are written on a flipchart paper and presented in plenary. This should include showing disaster prone areas on the map.
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Definition of a Disaster
A disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.
History of Disasters in Malawi
Over the last 20 years, approximately 218 million people each year were affected by disasters worldwide (Human Cost of Natural Disasters, 2015). These disasters cause immeasurable damage to life, infrastructure and livelihoods sometimes in a short period of time, but more often over weeks or months.
Malawi faces a number of hazards, both natural and human-made which include floods, dry spells, stormy rains, strong winds, hailstorms, landslides, earthquakes, pest infestations, diseases outbreaks, fire and civil disorders. The intensity and frequency of disasters has been increasing due to climate change, population growth, urbanization and environmental degradation. Disasters disrupt people’s livelihoods, endanger human and food security, damage infrastructure and hinder socio-economic growth and development. Disasters also increase the poverty at household level and erode the ability of the national economy to invest in key social sectors which are important to reducing poverty. It is, therefore, important to address disaster risks for the socio-economic development of the country.
In the past, disaster management in Malawi consisted of a set of reactive measures to save lives and assist victims in their recovery. Since the 1991 Phalombe Disaster, many politicians and aid practitioners have accepted that many disasters can in fact be avoided or at least made less destructive, if the risks faced by vulnerable communities are reduced. This should now explain why the Malawi Government policy in collaboration with its implementing partners has shifted its approach to disaster risk reduction, moving away from that of reaction.]