President, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera says he is pleased that the National Assembly has shown a strong commitment to work collaboratively with the Executive to deal with the effects caused by Tropical Cyclone Freddy in the southern region of Malawi.
Chakwera made the remarks today after reporting to Parliament the extent of physical and emotional damage the natural calamity has caused to the country.
“I am glad that we have a consensus from Parliament agreeing to our efforts in providing adequate relief items, relocating and resettlement of displaced people and rebuilding of damaged infrastructure,” he wrote in his Facebook page.
He adds: “While evaluation of the damage is still ongoing, I have tasked all ministries, departments and agencies to expedite consolidation of all the loss thereby guiding our forthcoming actions in rebuilding the country.”
According to Chakwera, the task of rebuilding Malawi is primarily ours as a people and a nation.
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.
