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.

Understanding Disaster Risk Management Module

• Module aims at outlining a number of concepts and terms that are used in DRM.
• Provides a basis for effective understanding of these terminologies and the concepts.
• Also tackles issues to do with Disaster Risk Management (DRM) cycle focusing on all the stages of the cycle.
• It is important therefore, to understand these concepts and the DRM cycle.