President Lazarus Chakwera yesterday lamented the growing numbers of victims of Tropical Cyclone Freddy and disruption of business between Malawi and neighbouring Mozambique.

Speaking when he visited Chiradzulu and Mulanje districts as well as survivors admitted to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre, he also said the cyclone disrupted service delivery in government offices such as the Malawi Revenue Authority, Immigration Department and Malawi Police Service, among others.

The President said: “I know we are mourning, however, what I have seen is overwhelming. People here are in dire need of assistance and as a government, we will support them in this difficult time.”

The President interacts with displaced children at Mitawa Primary
School camp at Limbuli in Mulanje yesterday

During Chakwera’s visit, Mulanje district commissioner Jack Ngulube said at least 91 people have died, 40 are injured and over 8 000 displaced. He said the displaced are being housed in 75 evacuation camps set up in the district.

The President also visited Nkando in Mulanje West Constituency where he assured people of government’s commitment to swift humanitarian response to ensure survivors receive food, blankets and clothes.

“This is unprecedented. We have never faced such a tragedy in the form of floods as a country before. There are many organisations and people of goodwill that have already started channelling foodstuffs and resources towards flood relief,” he said.

The President concluded his tour at Nguludi Mission camp in Chiradzulu District where about 228 displaced people are seeking shelter.

He commended some faith-based groups for complementing efforts to provide relief food, shelter and clothing to people living in areas where government assistance is not easily accessible.

During the visit to QECH, the President said the hospital was overwhelmed.

He said: “The doctors, nurses and caregivers have been traumatised. They too have never seen anything like this. And so in as much as we know there are gaps in terms of personnel and equipment they have done their best.

“I am extremely grateful to see a team that worked together and continues to work together from various departments because of an emergency that has happened.”

Chakwera stressed that apart from medicine, there is also need for basic things like clothes and shelter many are not being reached in the other districts because 36 or so roads have been affected or destroyed.

QECH earlier reported to have received over 220 casualties, including 42 adults and 43 children who were pronounced dead on arrival, according to Doctors without Borders or Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

MSF has since announced it has put together a team to provide medical and logistical support in response to the cyclone.

“The situation is very dire. There are many casualties— either wounded, missing or dead and the numbers will only increase in the coming days,” Guilherme Botelho, MSF emergency project coordinator in Blantyre told https://www.msf.org <https:// www.msf.org>.

MSF head of mission in Malawi Marion Pechayre added: “We have redirected some of our staff from our regular project for cervical cancer to assist the MSF emergency team at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.

“We have also suspended outreach activities to protect our staff from any risks linked to flash floods and landslides during movements or building collapses.”

The President on Monday declared a State of Disaster in the 10 districts hit by the cyclone and appealed for assistance from local and international well-wishers. He also announced that the Malawi Government has released K1.6 billion for the response efforts

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