Malawi — humanitarian situation

Malawi is experiencing compounded humanitarian pressures stemming from severe food insecurity, recent flooding, and deteriorating livelihoods amid recurrent climate shocks. The 2025/2026 consumption year has seen the worst food insecurity crisis in seven years, affecting over 4 million people across all districts (IFRC). This crisis resulted from consecutive seasons of adverse climatic conditions that devastated agricultural production. Communities in Nsanje, Chikwawa, Neno, and Mwanza districts, along with central and southern lakeshore areas, face Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes through at least September, with poor households unable to meet non-food needs despite accessing own production (FEWS NET). The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee has identified affected populations spanning IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) classifications (IFRC). Heavy rains and floods occurring between 15 March and 15 April 2026 displaced at least 368,000 people across 81,842 households in 23 district and city councils (WFP, Logistics Cluster). The humanitarian response continues across multiple sectors. WFP reached nearly 1.2 million people in April, distributing 1,336 metric tons of food and USD 2.41 million through cash-based transfers, with ongoing support from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs for flood-affected households (WFP). Broader climate resilience concerns persist as the region faces what organizations describe as a "polycrisis" of annual extreme weather events in a 1.3°C warmer world (ChildFund Alliance, Plan International, Save the Children). The Ministry of Health has rolled out Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response guidelines across all 29 districts using a One Health approach to strengthen early detection capacity (WHO). Migration pressures are evident, with 12,556 cross-border movements observed in March 2026 and increasing returnees to Malawi due to tightened South African enforcement (IOM). Looking forward, forecasts indicate El Niño conditions are very likely from mid-2026, with most models predicting at least a moderate-strength event and a strong event increasingly possible (IASC, IFRC, OCHA). This threatens to compound existing vulnerabilities in a country already facing fiscal constraints, climate-related disruptions, and recurrent disease outbreaks (WHO).