Malawi's biggest problems used to be with witchcraft, haunted Presidential mansions, cannibalistic Chinese immigrants and too much palm wine.
Lately though, the gods appear to be quite angry indeed as they deliver such tangible terrors like years-long drought, floods exacerbated by poor land stewardship, black clouds of crop-devouring locusts, and now... Cholera!
Cholera claims 51 lives as flooding spreads
Over 4,000 cases of cholera, a disease associated with poor sanitation, a lack of hygiene and access to potable water, have been recorded over the past three months, mostly in Malawi's southern region.
The south experienced one of its worst droughts in a decade last year, and persistent dry spells have forced people to move around in search of food, exposing them to the risk of consuming contaminated food and water, which causes cholera, explained Some.
Almost half the country's population of 12 million were affected by food shortages and the lack of potable water in last year's drought.Many rural Malawians had also gone in search of employment in urban areas like the commercial capital, Blantyre, in the south of the country, where most of the cholera cases have been recorded.
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A couple of years ago, when Malawi was again struck by floods (these people obviously aren't praying enough to appease capricious spiteful God), they were aided by United Bible Societies, who brought them tasty delicious bibles!
Malawi flood victims receive Scriptures
BLANTYRE, Malawi — Thousands of people in Malawi who lost their homes, possessions and livelihoods during severe flooding in January have received Scriptures and food aid through a partnership between the Bible Society of Malawi, World VisionMalawi and the Salvation Army. When details of the devastation caused by the floods first emerged, the Bible Society acted quickly, organising a project called Bread of Life, aimed at bringing spiritual encouragement as well as physical help to flood victims, and called on the UBS fellowship for prayer support. A few weeks later, in mid-February, distribution began of 600 Ngonde Bibles, 500 Bibles and 5,000 Gospels of John in Chichewa and 1,200 English New Reader Portions. The distribution, which was completed by early March, took place in the worst-hit areas in northern, central and southern Malawi.
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What a relief that must have been to people with no home and no food. White people arrive to help them. Box after box opened up to reveal hundreds of copies of a magic book, which they can not eat (despite being called Bread of Life above) nor live in - though I'm sure many took the boxes the books came in to live in those.