Malawi receives $11.2m for El Niño drought relief

Malawi received an $11.2 million insurance payout from the African Risk Capacity (ARC) Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to aid recovery from a severe drought caused by El Niño.

The funds, facilitated by the AfDB’s African Development Fund and the Africa Disaster Risk Financing (ADRiFi) Programme, will support food assistance for 235,000 households in Malawi’s Lower Shire and Southern regions and cash transfers to 118,000 households in the Central region.

President Chakwera emphasised the significance of the payout, calling it a crucial lifeline for vulnerable populations affected by the drought.

The 2024 El Niño event is one of the strongest on record, exacerbating the food crisis in Southern Africa.

The payout is part of a broader effort by the African Risk Capacity and the African Development Bank to support countries impacted by extreme weather events.

By September 2024, a total of $62 million is expected to be distributed across Southern Africa to address El Niño-related impacts.

Attribution: The African Development Bank (AfDB)

Subediting: M. S. Salama