We need support, says Chakwera

President Lazarus Chakwera has launched a fresh emergency appeal for international support after Tropical Cyclone Freddy-induced floods and landslides have killed at least 225.

He made the appeal yesterday at Naotcha Primary School in Chilobwe Township, Blantyre during a funeral for 17 of the victims, including children, who died due to the impact of the storm that began at the weekend.

The President also visited Manja Primary School, Nyambadwe and Ndirande where thousands more are seeking temporary refuge.

In his address, Chakwera said he was personally devastated by the tragedy, adding that Tropical Cyclone Freddy has pulled Malawi back when it was already down on its knees trying to recover from previous weather-related tragedies.

He said: “I appeal to the international community to please look at us with such favour because we need help for people who have been rescued, who lost everything and need shelter, clothing and food.

“While we have buried over 225 now, we are still trying to rescue and recover more, some are being rescued, but others have been buried because of the mudslides and if anyone has what it takes to help a neighbour, let Malawi become a neighbour that will thank you forever because you’ve come at the right time to give assistance.”

Grief and sorrow engulfed the atmosphere in Chilobwe where 85 of the 225 people killed resided.

The President said: “I am personally so devastated. Sometimes when you just pass these mini caskets you cannot help, but shed tears because loved ones are gone. One whole family completely wiped out and so many others that have been touched. You feel sad that we are at the receiving end of climate change that you feel helpless.

“We are using hope as a currency to encourage those that have survived that we will not leave them alone because we are trusting you as international neighbours to come through so Malawians can continue with that hope.”

United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Rabecca Adda-Dontoh in an interview expressed condolences to the government and people of Malawi and pledged more support to complement efforts by the government.

She said the UN is currently supporting with relief items such as food but also search and rescue because some of the places are inaccessible. She also disclosed that UN Malawi is coordinating with other regional offices to bring all UN capacities and resources in Malawi.

Adda-Dontoh said: “Malawi needs support right now. The key thing is food but also shelter. There are many displacerd people, we need to have shelter with minimum amenities, we also need international community and partners to support us with search and rescue, including boats and even helicopters because we can’t access many places with search and rescue.”

The President has declared 14 days of national mourning in honour of more than 220 people who died due to floods and landslides triggered by the deadly Tropical Cyclone Freddy that hit 13 districts in the Southern Region.

And in his national addresslast night, Chakwera also authorised the release of K1.6 billion to help thousands of people that have been affected by the cyclone.

He said: “The level of devastation we are dealing with is greater than the resources that we have. In view of the extent of the loss of life caused buy this disaster, i have declared that all of us observe 14 days of national mourning and that all flags fly at half mast for the first seven of those days.”

Chakwera also unveiled four key action plans he is personally coordinating, namely ensuring that all those who died are given a proper and dignified burial and those that are still missing are accounted for.

The other action are to ensure that those still stranded in unsafe places are bough to safety in the shelters created by the government and partners to meet their immediate humanitarian needs, ensure that State and non-State actors and volunteers pull in the same direction and putting resources together to make the most of shared efforts and ensure that Malawi secures more support from international and local supporters “so we can meet the needs that we are facing”.

“During the coming season of political rebuildingand reconstruction, we will all need to put our political differences aside and make painful sacrifices to make our country stronger and more resilient in readiness for future disasters,” he said.