World Vision staff and community members of Matope, Malawi, pass boxes of water purification tabs hand over hand. The tabs are being used to purify water to prevent diarrheal infections.

At least 176 people died and more than 200,000 were displaced in the past few months after heavy floods in southern Malawi that destroyed large farming areas, houses and sanitary facilities including toilets.

Feggie Rodrick, a 32-year-old mother, says community members in Matope are worried about water-borne infections. “We are at risk of contracting cholera. The water that we are using now is contaminated,” Feggie says.

Water, sanitation and hygiene, relief food and emergency shelter are some of the top priorities identified by World Vision in Matope where a total of 1,810 people including 1,300 children have been affected.

“We are distributing water purification treatment to affected households to combat the spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases,” says World Vision program manager Immaculate Bottomani.

“Most people have lost their dwelling shelters and are now seeking shelter in public schools and displacement camps,” she says. “This has potential of fast spread of communicable diseases as they are now living in congested dwelling shelters.”

World Vision staff and volunteers also encourage people to boil their water before drinking.

Photo©2015 Charles Andrew Kabena/World Vision