World Bank managing director for operations Anna Bjerde yesterday said the bank through its portfolio in Malawi is pumping in $80 million (about K82.5 billion) to help the Malawi Government in post- Cyclone Freddy recovery.

Bjerde, who arrived in the country yesterday from Washington DC in the United States (US) accompanied by the bank’s officials, said the bank would be making an additional $100 million (K105 billion) to help government come up with a disaster management plan.

She made the commitment after visiting affected areas in Chilobwe Township in Blantyre where over 100 people died and scores of others were displaced by mudslides from Soche Hill when the cyclone hit on March 13 2023.

The World Bank is currently financing 21 projects in Malawi valued at $2.5 billion (about K2.5 trillion) in addition to five regional operations through which Malawi accesses $343 million (about K345 billion) in financing, thus a total commitment of $2.8 billion (about K2.8 trillion).

During the visit, she heard first-hand accounts from survivors and said she was heartbroken to learn about the destruction aused, more especially the loss of life.

Bjerdie said: “We need to move fast to restore the livelihoods of these people. This cyclone hit the people at night and it was impactful. We need to prevent impacts in future.” Esther Misunju, a survivor who escaped with one child and lost others, recounted to the team how it happened and how she survived. She told the team that she had no home.

Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Sosten Gwengwe commended the World Bank team for the commitment shown to assist Malawi come over the disaster.

Bjerde, who was also accompanied by World Bank’s regional vice-president for Eastern and Southern Africa Victoria Kwakwa, later visited Blantyre Water Board (BWB) alongside Minister of Water and Sanitation Abida Mia.

The bank is funding a BWB water and sanitation project to the tune of $145 of this grant took place later in the evening, where Gwengwe signed on behalf of the Government of Malawi. million grant. The signing

The visit of the World Bank team came against the backdrop of the Cyclone Freddy and multiple socio-economic shocks that have hit the country, from Covid-19 to the year-long cholera outbreak, to Tropical Storms Ana and Gombe in 2022.

In a statement earlier, the World Bank office in Lilongwe said the visit, the first to Malawi for both leaders, will start with a tour to Cyclone Freddy affected areas in Blantyre City.

During their visit, Bjerde and Kwakwa will also get firsthand feedback from stakeholders supported through the bank’s funded Agricultural Commercialisation Project and tour the Lilongwe Water and Sanitation Project

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