Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department is providing to Malawi as a result of cyclone Idai.

The Government of Malawi and UN have reported that around 730,000 people have been affected by flooding in Malawi linked to the Cyclone Idai weather system, with over 87,000 displaced, and 59 deaths.

DFID is working closely with partners to respond quickly. The Secretary of State has approved £22 million to victims across the region. In Malawi, DFID has committed £3.4 million that will provide: 65,000 people with relief items and shelter; 150,000 people with immediate food assistance for two months; 250,000 people with water, sanitation and hygiene support; and 130,000 people with health services.

This supplements our existing resilience-building programming which is providing cash transfers to feed 140,000 people until the end of March.

DFID is the largest donor to the START Fund that has allocated £412,911 to an NGO consortium to meet immediate needs, such as clean water and shelter in Malawi.