As they flee, they bring with them their animals and possessions. The districts of Nsanje, Chikwawa, Phalombe and Blantyre are the worst affected, with at least nine people dead and some 60,000 people from 117 villages left homeless. Pockets of land both in the north and the south get flooded each year, but not to this extent. One woman said her village near Nsanje in the south had been completely inundated three times over the past month - and the rains are far from over. According to weather forecasts, the worst is yet to come.
Most affected areas are inaccessible by road, and can only be reached by helicopter.
Malawi Red Cross teams are distributing emergency relief goods, including blankets, tarpaulins, tents, jerry cans and chlorine tablets but assessments teams are already looking at the longer term needs of flood victims. Many people are already weak, having eaten very little during February - before the March harvest people have little or no food left. He is leading an assessment team, which includes representatives from the Spanish, Swedish and American Red Cross Societies. Recurrent flooding and unpredictable weather patterns underline the need for disaster preparedness. After years of assisting refugees from Mozambique, we have built up experience and human resources - but we desperately need funding to help the most vulnerable people get back on their feet.