Malawi receives an insurance payout of $11.2 million for El Nino-linked drought disaster
The Malawian government has received an insurance payout of $11.2 million for an El Nino-linked drought that led to a disaster declaration in the southern African nation
BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) — The Malawian government has received an insurance payout of $11.2 million for a crippling El Nino-linked drought that led the southern African nation to declare a state of disaster earlier this year.
The payout was given to Malawi this month, the African Development Bank said Monday. Malawi had a drought insurance policy through the bank and the African Risk Capacity Group, an agency of the African Union.
The funds will support food assistance to around 235,000 households in some of Malawi's hardest-hit regions and also help with direct relief payments to more than 100,000 households, the African Development Bank said. Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said the payout was “a lifeline for our vulnerable populations.”
Malawi, which is already one of the world's poorest countries, has had its food supply ruined by the drought, which has been attributed to the El Nino natural weather phenomenon that lasted a year before ending in June. The country declared a state of emergency in March and said there was a food crisis in 23 of its 28 districts.
