Malawi’s Vice President, Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima is in the southern region of Malawi visiting victims of Tropical Cyclone Freddy that ripped through the region.
According to the second in command, straight from Lilongwe, he started his visit with St John’s Primary School camp at Lirangwe in Blantyre where over 20 families are being sheltered.
Chilima through his Twitter handle @SKChilima disclosed that he brought humanitarian assistance to the victims and urged many people to continue supporting them .
“We have brought a few relief items to keep our friends going in this difficult and trying times. Please let us continue helping each other the way we have been doing since the disaster struck. We have once shown that we are a people with a golden heart that we can give selflessly,” Chilima tweets.
Chilima adds: “This is no laboratory experiment. This is reality that requires speedy action from all of us. For those in leadership positions in the affected areas, this is the time to LEAD and INSPIRE. We shall rise together in the spirit of togetherness. I proceed to Ndirande then Zomba.”
Nearly 508,250 people have been displaced and at least 507 killed (as of 2023 March) by the flooding following Tropical Cyclone Freddy, as it made landfall in Malawi, leaving a trail of destruction on livelihoods, houses and infrastructure in its wake.
Since 12 March ,2023, heavy rains, strong winds, and floods attributed to the cyclone have had a devastating toll on the people across 14 districts – nearly half the country – with at least 1,300 people injured and 427 missing, according to authorities.
Those affected are in dire need of urgent humanitarian support with the most immediate needs being shelter, food, clean water, sanitation and hygiene, health, and protection.
