Anticipatory action supports communities at risk from floods in Salima, Malawi

Since November 2025, many parts of Malawi have been hit by severe rainfall. With forecasts indicating further rain, the Malawi Red Cross Society activated its simplified early action protocol (EAP) for pluvial floods on 5 January 2026.  

Over a five-day period, it has been directly supporting 12,500 people at risk from floods: 

• Around 500 households are being provided with plastic sheets to use as shelter materials for their homes. 
• 1,000 people are getting cash to meet their immediate needs; each person recieving 100,000 Malawian kwacha (approximately 168 US dollars/144 euros). 
• Other items being distributed include tents, tarpaulins, blankets and sleeping mats. 

In addition, the Malawi Red Cross Society will disseminate early warnings via community radio, through announcements from vans (van publicity), and through its volunteers going door to door in at-risk areas; these messages are expected to reach over 100,000 people. Communities will also be mobilized to clear blockages from stormwater-drainage channels, which will help to protect 100,000 people from the rising waters. 

The actions are being undertaken in the lakeshore district of Salima, where the soil is already highly saturated from the previous rains. Combined with the forecast heavy rainfall, this means the flood risk is particularly high in this district.  

“Anticipatory actions will lessen the impact of the disaster, as the people have been prepared for the pending flooding,” said Richard Zinyongo, head of logistics and corporate services at the Malawi Red Cross Society.