Malawi extends its state of disaster due to a stifling food crisis Economy News

Malawi President Arthur Peter Mutharika announced the extension of the state of disaster to include all 28 regions and four major cities, in light of a worsening food crisis resulting from prolonged droughts, according to a statement.

Justin Saidi, Secretary-General of the Government, said that the level of food insecurity in the country had reached “worrying levels,” noting that the decision was based on the report of the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee, which expected the crisis to worsen between October 2025 and March 2026.

Last October, Mutharika declared a state of disaster in 11 provinces, before expanding its scope to include the entire country as indicators of the crisis increased.

According to the integrated food security stage classification, about 4 million people suffer from severe levels of food insecurity, while 8,000 people face critical levels that threaten their lives.

Urgent calls for support

For their part, local and international organizations welcomed the step and described it as “timely,” considering that it opens the way for mobilizing additional resources to confront the crisis.

Disaster Management Commissioner Wilson Mulini said the announcement “provides an opportunity for more support and resources to save lives,” calling for an urgent humanitarian response.

John Capito, Executive Director of the Consumers Association of Malawi, also described the current food situation as “extremely sad,” stressing that “the majority of citizens suffer from hunger and struggle to find food,” and urged international partners to intervene quickly to support the country.

Malawi, a country located in southeastern Africa, with a population of about 22 million people, has been facing recurring food crises for five years due to hurricanes and prolonged droughts, making food security one of the most prominent challenges for the government and the international community.