Assessing the Resilience of the Chikwawa District in Malawi Against Hydrometeorological Hazards Using the UNDRR Disaster Resilience Scorecard Method
Assessing the Resilience of the Chikwawa District in Malawi Against Hydrometeorological Hazards Using the UNDRR Disaster Resilience Scorecard Method

Summary/Abstract: Assessing the resilience of the Chikwawa district in Malawi against hydrometeorological hazards using the UNDRR disaster resilience scorecard method. Climate change's impacts, especially Hydrometeorological hazards, are intensifying globally. In Malawi, extreme weather events like tropical cyclones, torrential rain, and flash floods have become annual occurrences over the past decade. These events have affected millions, resulted in approximately 3,000 deaths, with economic losses exceeding $800 million in the last decade. A lack of comprehensive assessment of hazards and community resilience has left the study area vulnerable and unprepared. This study addresses this gap by evaluating community resilience, considering both vulnerability and capacity to manage climate-induced risk. This study uses the UN Disaster Risk Reduction Scorecard which is structured around the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, to assess Chikwawa District's resilience to Hydrometeorological hazards. The study area faces various hydrological hazards: flash floods, riverine floods (both inevitable) and mud fall flows (very likely). It also faces meteorological hazards: tropical cyclones (inevitable), wind, and storm surges (both extremely likely). With an overall score of 38 out of 141 (27% compliance with the Sendai Framework) and a resilience score of 151 out of 590 (25%). This study identified that the study area is acutely lagging behind with regard to the putting in practice of the Sendai Framework recommendations. Thus, the area is highly vulnerable to Hydrometeorological hazards and urgent actions need to be taken.

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