Malawi’s Permanent Representative to the African Union, Ambassador Chimango Chirwa, today briefed the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on the state of disaster in Malawi following the floods that have left many people dead, others missing, several injured and thousands displaced.

The meeting took place at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the ambassador took the opportunity to call for the support of the African Union in the ongoing disaster mitigation response by the government of Malawi.

“What has happened in Malawi is a human catastrophe. His Excellency President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika declared a State of Disaster in the affected areas on 9th March 2019 in order to prioritize relief efforts and save lives.”

Ambassador Chirwa sought the support of the AU Commission Chair in highlighting the plight of the affected people of Malawi so as to attract the much needed humanitarian aid and funds for urgent infrastructure rehabilitation.

“We request the Commission to help in spreading the urgency of our situation to the attention of the relevant humanitarian offices and agencies across the continent for their support”, said Chirwa.