Chronicle Editor
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has directed Cabinet to craft a plan to provide humanitarian assistance following the recent devastation by Cyclone Freddy, which has claimed hundreds of lives in the southern African country.
Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera last week appealed for global support to tackle “a national tragedy” after Cyclone Freddy pummelled the country, causing flooding and mudslides that have killed hundreds.
He said the level of devastation they are dealing with in Malawi is “greater than the resources at our disposal”.
President Chakwera has since declared two weeks of national mourning.
In her post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the decision by President Mnangagwa is in response to the appeal for assistance by his Malawian counterpart Chakwera to his fellow Sadc Heads of State and Government.
She said the President has since constituted a Disaster Relief Committee led by Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo to draw up a comprehensive assistance package for disaster-stricken Malawi.
The committee will liaise with the Government of Malawi on modalities for conveying the relief package.
“His Excellency the President, Cde ED Mnangagwa led Cabinet in crafting a plan to render humanitarian assistance to Malawi following the recent devastation by Cyclone Freddy. The cyclone claimed over 300 lives and caused extensive damage to homes and social services infrastructure,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“Thousands of victims suffered injury and displacement, while the affected areas were rendered impassable.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet has directed that the mobilisation of relief assistance should commence immediately and include 10 000 tonnes of mealie-meal; cooking oil; blankets; clothing; construction material for cabins; sanitisers, detergents, bath soaps, stationery and other learning materials.
“To widen the scope of donations to Malawi, Government is encouraging the private sector, national institutions and citizens to donate generously to this worthy cause,” she said.
According to the United Nations, its agencies on Monday were scrambling to reach millions affected by the deadly tropical cyclone Freddy, which has worsened cholera outbreaks in Malawi and Mozambique as communities recover from devastating damages caused by storms, massive flooding, and mudslides.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths released US$5,5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to assist cyclone-affected people in Malawi, as the devastating toll of floods and mudslides in the country’s southern region continues to rise.
Unicef estimated that 4,8 million children are in humanitarian need.
Visiting flood-ravaged communities on 16 March, UN Resident Co-ordinator for Malawi, Rebecca Adda-Dontoh pledged UN support.
The death toll in south-east Africa due to the exceptionally long-lasting tropical cyclone Freddy has risen to 522, according to authorities in Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar.
Disaster management authorities in Malawi, which has been hit the hardest by the cyclone, reported on Saturday that the death toll there had risen to 438. – @skhumoyo2000.
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