At least 450 people are confirmed dead and hundreds more remain missing after a devastating tropical cyclone struck southern Malawi.
Cyclone Freddy, believed to be one of the longest-lasting tropical cyclones on record, has displaced hundreds of thousands since making landfall in the south of the country. Heavy rains and flooding have caused deadly landslides that have destroyed homes, villages, roads and bridges in the south of the country.
Malawi’s President, Lazarus Chakwera, has declared 14 days of national mourning and called for support from the international community, saying climate change has the potential to keep “a national like Malawi in perpetual poverty”. The country has been struck by three cyclones in 13 months.
The cyclone, which has also affected Mozambique and Madagascar, struck during a deadly cholera outbreak in Malawi that has already killed more than 1,700 people in the country within the last year. Health authorities now fear the cyclone will increase cholera risk, as widespread flooding has washed away toilets and already vulnerable sanitation systems, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without access to safe, clean drinking water.
United Purpose and Self Help Africa are working alongside agencies, including UNICEF Malawi and the International Committee of the Red Cross, to support the Government’s response to the crisis.
With our sister organisation Self Help Africa, with whom we merged more than a year ago, we are providing aid and assistance, including tarpaulins, buckets, soap, water purification tablets and other essential supplies, to communities affected by the deadly storm in displaced peoples’ camps and in areas where we are already working.