Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) says it will not conduct a post disaster needs assessment to establish the recovery needs and cost of damages caused by the impact of Cyclone Jude.
In an interview yesterday, Dodma spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula observed that the Cyclone Jude that affected 20 646 people and displaced 4 883 in the 11 affected councils was not that devastating.
He said the post disaster needs assessment is only conducted when disasters are of high magnitude.
Said Khamula: “Recovery needs are informed by a post disaster needs assessment which is conducted if the disaster was of high magnitude. Jude wasn’t that devastating.
“It [post disaster needs assessment also] informs damages in monetary value and cost for recovery.”
In its final Cyclone Jude Update, dated March 13 2025, signed by commissioner for disaster management affairs Charles Kalemba, Dodma indicated that 15 people were injured, while three others were missing in Nsanje.
But in an interview yesterday, Nsanje district information officer Robert Naija said two of the three people reported missing, two were found dead on Friday last week.
He identified the deceased as Joe Tisowa, 26 years old, and Chifundo Patrick, 11, both from group village Mphwiri in Traditional Authority Mlolo in the district. Another person still missing was identified as Lawrence Patrick, 17 also from the same village.
“Searching was conducted for four days by both communities and Nsanje District Council search and rescue cluster,” said Naija.
In December, Cyclone Chido also entered Malawi and affected 10 159 people, claiming 13 lives and injuring 29 others.
Since the start of the 2024/25 rainfall season, severe weather characterised by heavy rains has killed at least 41 people and injured 469 others.
