ADRA Provides Food to Flood Survivors in Zambia

1,200 people displaced by continued heavy rains receive aid

Silver Spring, Maryland?The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is providing emergency food packages for 1,200 flood survivors in Zambia after heavy rains and flooding washed away homes, crops, and livelihoods and displaced more than 334,000 people in Zambia as well as Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

ADRA Zambia will distribute maize meal, vegetable oil, salt, and Kapenta?a sardine-like fish?to 150 households, or approximately 1,200 flood survivors in the heavily affected Monze district, where more than 3,200 people have been displaced after flooding destroyed their homes.

Widespread destruction to local infrastructure has also been reported, including roads, schools, and clinics. In addition, rising waters have submerged crops, with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reporting that an estimated 45 percent of crops in the Southern province have been lost. Approximately 80,000 additional people are currently under threat of increased flooding and face additional risk to crops and property.

Although the entire country has been affected, the areas most heavily hit are the Monze, Mazabuka, Siavonga, Sinanzongwe, and Namwala districts in the Southern province, Kafue and Lusaka in Lusaka province, Chibombo in Central province and Chavuma and Zambezi in North-Western province. Government officials estimate that 1.5 million may be displaced if the rains continue, particularly in the north and northwest regions of the country.

The three-week project is funded by ADRA International, the ADRA Africa Regional Office located in Nairobi, Kenya, and ADRA Zambia.

To assist in ADRA's response to the flooding in Zambia, please contact ADRA at 1.800.424.ADRA (2372) or donate online to the Emergency Response fund at www.adra.org.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

-END-

Author: Nadia McGill

Media Contact:
Kara Watkins
ADRA International
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Phone: 301.680.6357
Mobile: 301.526.2625
E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org