Malawi Red Cross pleads for Freddy survivors

The Malawi Red Cross Society has reiterated calls to the corporate world, civil society organisations, government institutions and the general public to continue offering support to Tropical Cyclone Freddy survivors. MRCS spokesperson Felix Washoni said even though they moved to recovery from the response phase, people still need materials as there are…

The Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) has reiterated calls to the corporate world, civil society organisations, government institutions and the general public to continue offering support to Tropical Cyclone Freddy survivors.

MRCS spokesperson Felix Washoni said even though they moved to recovery from the response phase, people still need materials as there are camps which are yet to be decommissioned.

“Indeed, there are fewer donations coming in now but the need for help is still huge,” he said.

Cyclone Freddy hit most parts of the Southern Region, killing hundreds of people and displacing thousands.

The cyclone also damaged property worth billions of Kwacha.

To make matters worse, some people are still in camps in some parts of the country.

However, some stakeholders have blamed poor response to cyclones such as Freddy on a weak resource base.

For instance, a report by the Malawi Economic Justice Network has faulted authorities for weak funding towards climate related activities.

The report says the first 10-year Malawi Implementation Plan has set aside K31 billion to cater for climate-related activities in the 10 years up to 2030.

But the report says the damage caused by climate change through Freddy in one year alone is estimated at K750 billion.

According to the study, budget statements presented in Parliament for the past three financial years do not indicate climate change to be a priority area

It notes that the allocations to climate-related projects are usually indicated within the budgetary share of the agriculture sector.