Dodma calls for support in recovery interventions

Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) has called for support in recovery interventions following devastating effects of Tropical Cyclone Freddy.

Dodma says it will be a tall order to raise enough funds for reconstruction and recovery efforts with the trending global economic challenges.
The Department’s spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula said this in Phalombe on Wednesday during the tour of water, sanitation and hygiene (Wash) activities IsraAid organisation is carrying out in the district.

During the tour, Group Village Head Chiophya complained that her subjects were dumped without assistance after they left camps. She said: “When we were in camps, non-governmental organisations were giving us food. But after we left, especially considering that some people were staying in schools, the assistance stopped.

 “We are left to fight for our survival as our crops were swept away.We were told that those whose houses were destroyed would be built new ones, but nothing has happed. In short, we are abandoned.”

In his response, Khamula said in collaboration with humanitarian partners and councils, they provided assistance. He, however, said they are transitioning towards early and middle recovery interventions.

Khamula disclosed that his organisation and partners are working towards mobilising  $680 million (about K680 billion) for reconstruction and recovery response. “But all is not lost because we received K7 billion from the German Government through the World Food Programme and we are expected to receive about $100 million from World Bank. We will continue to implement our plans,” he said.

According to the spokesperson, 16 councils that were affected by Cyclone Freddy had about 650 000 people in camps. However, the figure is now around 50 000. One of the effects of the cyclone was the damage of boreholes which resulted into people drinking water from unsafe sources, according to Chiophya.

IsraAid is trying to reduce the problem by repairing them in traditional authorities Mkhumba and Jenala in the district as well as Chikumbu in Mulanje.

The organisation’s roving head of mission, Nisarg Kalaiya, said they are also training locals to repair boreholes.

“Water is life. So when in future disasters strike and boreholes are damaged, they should be able to repair them instantly other than waiting for technicians who might be far away,” he said.
One of the people that were trained, Beauty Banda, said she was delighted considering that her area is flood prone. She boasted that she could dismantle a borehole and make it without problems.

IsraAid was founded in 2001 as a coalition of Israeli disaster relief and international development organisations.