Nsanje District Urges Residents in Flood-Prone Areas to Evacuate Ahead of Cyclone Freddy

Malawi-Residents in the flood-prone areas of the Shire Valley district of Nsanje have been urged to evacuate to higher ground for their safety ahead of the impending tropical cyclone Freddy, which is due to hit the district on Saturday, March 11, 2023, writes Cornelius Lupenga.

During an extraordinary meeting on Friday, Nsanje District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Patrick Supuni warned council members that Nsanje is among the districts likely to be hit by the cyclone, which is expected to arrive over the weekend.

Supuni urged council members to alert residents, particularly those in low-lying areas, to relocate immediately to avoid becoming victims of flash floods.

The DRRO assured council members that the district is prepared with both food and non-food items in case of any flash floods in Nsanje.

"We have received tents from the Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) and Churches Action in Relief and Development (CARD), while the World Food Programme (WFP) has maize standby at the Humanitarian Staging Area (HSA) in Bangula," he said.

Nsanje District Council Chairperson Rose Makiyi agreed with the DRRO, saying that the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has already issued a warning of possible flash floods.

Makiyi appealed to communities in the district to adhere to weather reports from community radios in Nsanje, national radios and televisions, and mobile vehicles across the district.