Malawi Government has released the 2023 Tropical Cyclone Freddy Post-Disaster Needs Assessment report which, among others, comprehensively measures the physical damages and economic losses left by the disaster.

The report reveals a total of $506.7 million (over K500 billion) was lost in the disaster and further estimates that government would require a total of $680.4 million (over K700 billion) for recovery and reconstruction.

Among others, the report recommends the establishment of building regulations for resilience and the construction of new infrastructure that can withstand climate shocks and stressors and also enhancement of disaster risk knowledge to allow for effective disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction activities, across sectors.

Government has produced the 102-page report with financial and technical support from the World Bank, Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, United Nations, and Delegation of the European Union to Malawi.

Such Cyclone Freddy devastation will impact on GDP

In early March this year, the country experienced one of the worst tropical cyclones on record which negatively affected people’s lives, livelihoods, and the country’s socioeconomic infrastructure, pushing more people into poverty.

In total, an estimated 2 267 458 people in 16 districts were directly affected, including 659 278 people who were displaced (336,252 female; 323,026 male), 679 killed, and over 530 declared missing by mid-March 2023.

The devastating heavy rains and floods caused substantive damage and losses to social services, followed by the productive and infrastructure sectors. The disaster impact was highest in the housing sector, with about 260,681 houses damaged or destroyed.

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