I've raised £2000 to Help Flood Victims of Cyclone Idai In Malawi

Organised by Ivana Alvares-Marshall Governor African Section Ninety Nines International Women Pilots

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Malawi Needs Your Help!

The African Section 99s International Women Pilots appeals for your help to assist Malawi during these horrendous floods - the worst ever in decades. Emergency workers are calling it the region’s most destructive flooding in 20 years. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. Due to damaged infrastructure and road networks the affected regions are mostly accessible by air.

Malawi is not prepared for dealing with this magnitude of disaster. Most people do not know how to swim or bring themselves to safety, those that can swim are at risk of attacks from crocodiles and snakes. They are relying on rescuers to get them to safety. Unfortunately, due to inaccessibility of the affected areas, it is proving difficult to access people most in need. The disaster victims require help with helicopters to be airlifted. The help has been slow getting there. People have been stuck for over a week on roof tops and trees.

The southern region of Malawi along the lower Shire, Chikwawa, Mangochi, Pholaombe and Nsanje are all in a state of emergency and help is desperately needed.

Due to Cyclone Idai, heavy rains and unprecedented flooding in Malawi has caused hundreds of thousands of people to have been displaced by the storms that began more than two weeks ago. In Malawi, floods have left over 230,000 people without shelter and affected around 739,000 people according to the United Nations.

Thousands of flood survivors are sleeping on the floor in a half-finished hospital in Makina village, Zomba southern Malawi - one of the areas worst hit by flooding. Their homes and belongings were swept away by rushing water.

Four days of non-stop rainfall swelled the Phalombe River until it burst through a long dyke built last year for protection. The water spread across a large area until it reached surrounding villages. Inhabitants say the water rose quickly, surprising them in the middle of the night. They were woken by barking dogs and the screams of others.

There are 187 camps in the area. People need safe places to live and sleep. They need food and water, rehydration, cooking utensils, clothes, bedding, medical assistance to prevent infectious diseases, hygiene products for hands and personal needs, water filter systems and medicine. They need mosquito nets (since malaria is the number one killer in Africa), clean sanitation, temporary toilets, blankets, food such as Ufa maize flour, sugar, tea etc. To help one person would cost MWK12000.00. US$1000.00 can help 60 people. And US$5,000.00 can help 300 people in the camps and remote villages.

Due to incessant rains gallons of water flooded through the region, landslides were initiated, destroying mountainsides and roads, and rivers overflowed into neighbouring towns and villages. Roads have been washed away. Areas are inaccessible by car. Many are stranded on rooftops.

We have had lots of friends, family and community members worldwide asking how they can help and where they can send money to support the rescue, relief and rebuilding efforts. This Go Fund Me page provides you the opportunity to help. Thank you for your concern, your love and your support!

At this point in time we have no idea how long the relief and rebuilding efforts will take, but given the extent of the damage, the process will be long as we are still having heavy torrential rain in the same areas of the country. The country is relying on international support in order to respond to this disaster.

The public is doing what they can for all the people who have lost family members, their homes, their lands, and livestock. It is for these people that we humbly request your assistance.

We appreciate any amount of money you can offer. Every penny helps!

Thank you for your support.