The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) says at least 133 learners and two teachers have died in the Cyclone Freddy disaster.

A situation report released on Friday shows that at least 273 388 learners comprising 130 980 boys and 142 408 girls have been affected of which 44 256 are adolescents and 3 656 are learners with disabilities.

The report further said 586 teachers, 374 males and 212 females, have also been affected in 484 affected primary schools and 63 secondary schools in 15 education districts.

Reads part of the report: “390 schools have been occupied by internally displaced people. Unfortunately, 113 learners [69 boys and 44 girls] and two female teachers have lost their lives.”

Among the affected public universities are Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, Malawi University of Science and Technology and University of Malawi, which experienced leakage of the library, hostels, houses and teaching areas, respectively.

Cyclone survivors receive porridge during school time

The cyclone has also affected an estimated 487 698 farming households and a total of 79 public health facilities 74 of which are functional but not accessible.

“Health services in five public health centres have been suspended. Of all the public infrastructure, the road infrastructure is the worst affected followed by schools and health facilities,” says Dodma in the report.

The department further outlined challenges in reaching out to the survivors, adding that it is yet to access 94 camps with food rations in 13 traditional authorities with a population of 155 009.

United States Ambassador to Malawi David Young recently described Cyclone Freddy as a long-term disaster that may take time to recover from, calling on partners to support the country in this time of need and in its recovery plan.

Meanwhile, World Food Programme deputy country director Simon Denhere has hailed the coordination between all partners in responding to the disaster, adding that the assessments by Dodma provide all the information needed including the scale of damage.

Among the needs in schools include safe temporary learning spaces, recreational and teaching and learning materials, hygiene promotion, including distribution of Wash supplies, school safety and psychosocial support.

Cyclone Freddy induced torrential rains that fell in the Southern Region from 11 to 13 March 2023 caused floods which affected 14 districts the worst affected districts being Nsanje, Chikwawa, Phalombe, Mulanje and Blantyre.

About 511 people have died with Blantyre recording the highest death toll of 212 while 533 others have been declared missing. So far, 563 771 are displaced and are being accommodated in 577 camps established to house them.

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