The British High Commission has handed over new flood search and rescue equipment to the Malawi government to strengthen local responses to climate-related disasters, according to AfricaBrief. Delivered through the World Food Programme, the donation includes two inflatable rescue boats, personal flotation devices, and specialised rescue gear for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA).
The equipment, originally provided by the UK-based charity Staffordshire Emergency Services Humanitarian Aid Association, will be pre-positioned at the Bangula Humanitarian Staging Area in Nsanje to serve the flood-prone Lower Shire Valley. Tanya Geleff, Acting Development Director at the British High Commission, stated that the physical donation pairs with recent specialist training to help protect vulnerable communities.
DoDMA Commissioner Wilson Moleni welcomed the contribution as an important addition to national disaster preparedness. AfricaBrief reports that the equipment handover follows a recent training session where the UK's International Search and Rescue Team instructed 20 Malawian frontline responders in boat handling, water safety, and flood rescue techniques.