Cyclone Freddy, the longest-lasting tropical cyclone on record (lasting 34 days), has hit Malawi and Mozambique. This cyclone is the equivalent of a full North Atlantic hurricane season.
Malawi experienced a year’s worth of rain during the 4-week cyclone. The number of people affected by the Tropical Cyclone in Malawi continues to rise. Over 508,000 people are displaced and hundreds have lost their lives. There's also an increased risk of malaria and cholera in the immediate aftermath.
Christian Aid Week is at its most powerful when a disaster happens. The fundraising supported by churches, communities and individuals each May allows us to provide relief and support when disasters hit.
It’s not just here and there, we are at the receiving end of the worst of climate change... It’s not a matter of saying be charitable to your neighbour, this has to do with loss and damage, this has to do with responses that are not tokenism.
Our response
Our partners and team in Malawi have been responding to the immediate recovery needs of communities. This includes:
- Corn soya blend for porridge for breastfeeding mothers and children under 5 years
- Mosquito nets for families to provide protection against malaria
- Providing temporary toilets and bathrooms, water containers and water treatment to help prevent the risk of cholera
- Mobile clinics to help people process the emotional trauma of the cyclone
- Distribution of cash to 1,000 households so that families can purchase their immediate needs
Update on Jen
Jen and her family are safe but had to abandon their home due to flooding. Some of her crops were destroyed. Jen reports that she has lost the equivalent of ‘2 bags’ of yield, worth at least £79. These are vital funds that she’d planned to use to pay for the secondary school fees of one of her children.
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Due to the floods, part of my field has also been washed away. I grew maize and pigeon peas in this field... I would like to let people know that we are facing one of the biggest disasters in Malawi and we need their support for us to manage to move out of this. We pray that our God will also help us in getting across these problems.
The mighty pigeon pea
Luke Theu, Christian Aid's Country Director for Malawi said: 'The pigeon pea is a crop that can bounce back and support people. Unlike other crops, which can’t be planted in these flood conditions, pigeon peas can. The challenge people will face, is the decline in the expected level of pigeon pea harvest, which could lead to hunger. Therefore, we need additional funds to help people to restore their livelihoods.'
Image credits and information
Image credits and information
