ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS THAT AFFECT FLOOD SEARCH AND RESCUE FROM THE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES’ PERSPECTIVE IN CHIKWAWA DISTRICT

Malawi is prone to natural hazards almost after every three years it experiences flood and Chikwawa is one of the districts in southern region hit by floods. The methodologies used in this research study include Qualitative method where questionnaire was administered. Results indicate that crucial tools such as drones are not much considered as shown by the results that 97.5% of the interviewees responded that drones are not used during flood search and rescue while 2.5% said drones are used. Flood search and rescue is delayed, when flood occurs in Chikwawa search and rescue team from Malawi Defence force, Malawi red cross society and Malawi police take more than 10 hours to attend to those affected by floods. Results show poor institution participation in flood search and rescue, 57.5% of people responded that Malawi Defence force participates, 35% for Malawi red cross society and 7.5% for Malawi police. Poor awareness campaigns which affect communication procedures, results have shown knowledge of people in the community about which institutions to call for flood search and rescue. showing transportation used during flood search and rescue. From those who were interviewed 70% do not have knowledge of which institution to call for flood search and rescue and 30% do have knowledge The research shows that 22.5% means of transport used are helicopters and 77.5% for boats. Comments from the respondents have shown that flood search and rescue is done by the member of the villages who mobilise themselves to rescue others. There is ineffective flood search and rescue since factors that affects flood search and rescue remain undressed. Technically this research involves carrying out an investigation on what affects the effectiveness of flood search and rescue in order to find solution to the existing flood search and rescue problem, if possible. This research was carried out in Chikwawa district located in southern region of Malawi.

Results indicate that crucial tools such as drones are not much considered as shown by the results that 97.5% of the interviewees responded that drones are not used during flood search and rescue while 2.5% said drones are used. Flood search and rescue is delayed, when flood occurs in Chikwawa search and rescue team from Malawi Defence force, Malawi red cross society and Malawi police take more than 10 hours to attend to those affected by floods. From those who were interviewed 70% do not have knowledge of which institution to call for flood search and rescue and 30% do have knowledge The research shows that 22.5% means of transport used are helicopters and 77.5% for boats. Technically this research involves carrying out an investigation on what affects the effectiveness of flood search and rescue in order to find solution to the existing flood search and rescue problem, if possible.

Chikwawa is located in the Southern Region of Malawi on the west bank of the Shire River. It lies almost 50 kilometres south of Blantyre, the commercial capital of Malawi. Chikwawa district covers an area of 4,755 km.2 and has a population of 356,682. Chikwawa GPS coordinates: 16° 2' 0.67" South, 34° 48' 3.28" East. Distance from equator: 1782.8 km South. The study was conducted in Group Village Headman Chikuse Area of Traditional Authority Makhwira in Chikwawa District. It comprised of two villages and these are Wilson and Chikuse. Chikuse is the main area that is hit by floods almost every year. This area is located along the Shire River and gets flooded due to several rivers pouring their water in this Shire River. Among these rivers is Mwanza River. The area has an altitude of 100m above the sea level or below. The land is almost flat with several river tributaries. The area has good and fertile soils that attract people for cultivation of crops without applying inorganic fertilizer.

Traditional authority: TA Makhwira

District: Chikwawa

Coordinates: -16.2776, 35.0011