ActionAid Malawi Launches K70m Program to Assist Cyclone Survivors in Phalombe, Nsanje

Malawi - ActionAid Malawi has launched a K70 million Tropical Cyclone Freddy (TCF) response and resilience program in the two impact districts of Phalombe and Nsanje districts, writes Fletcher Simwaka.

The program aims to assist affected communities in recovering and rebuilding their lives after the cyclone.

The response includes a K70 million cash support provision to a combined total of 1,000 affected households in both districts. Each survivor received K60,000.

Speaking during the launch that took place in Traditional Nkhulambe, Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Honourable Michael Usi, commended ActionAid Malawi for their quick response to support survivors.

“We are grateful to ActionAid because they have come to help the survivors at their point of need, and I ask other organizations to emulate this gesture. As a government, we are overwhelmed by the appeals for more support; that is why we are calling upon every stakeholder to join us in responding to the disaster," said Usi.

On her part, ActionAid Malawi Board Chairperson, Professor Dorothy Nampota, said Phalombe and Nsanje are the organization's impact areas in the southern region, hence the donation in the two districts.

“As an organization, we mainly work with women, girls, and children, and we have noted that Tropical Cyclone Freddy has heavily affected these groups. We decided to give cash to survivors to enable them to make decisions on how to use the money, depending on their urgent needs. After the cash support, we will start implementing resilience interventions to ensure survivors fully recover and rebuild their lives," said Nampota.

One of the beneficiaries, Esther Molande, said she will use the money to buy food, clothes, and other necessities.

“The floods took away everything I had. I am now at the camp where there is no food or other support. I appeal to the government and other well-wishers to come in and help other survivors. Otherwise, the situation is really pathetic," she said.

As of March 18, 2023, TCF has claimed over 447 lives and displaced over 362,928 Malawians currently being sheltered in 505 camps across all the affected districts, mainly in southern Malawi.

At least 918 are injured, while 282 are reportedly missing, according to preliminary reports by Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs.