Cornish charity giving emergency aid after Malawi flooding

The flooding has damaged homes and other infrastructure

A Cornwall charity has been providing emergency shelter in Malawi after severe flooding in East Africa.

ShelterBox said more than 12,000 people were displaced across central Malawi.

The flooding damaged homes, roads and infrastructure, and the charity said many homes were submerged by flood waters.

Response teams have been distributing tarpaulins, tools, water filters, solar lights, and other essential items.

It comes after periods of heavy rain in the country.

Essential items have been distributed

Response team lead Martin Strutton said: "Where the flood water is starting to recede, it's revealing the true scale of damage to homes and belongings that many people don't have the resources to repair or replace. "

He added aid had already been stored in a warehouse following Cyclone Freddy, where more than 400 people were killed and thousands of homes destroyed after one of the longest-lived storms ever recorded in the southern hemisphere.

Mr Strutton said the aid already available is "allowing us to respond relatively quickly".