The All Africa Conference- Sister to Sister of the Catholic Church asserts that the recovery process in Malawi post the impact of Cyclone Freddy is falling short of expectations.
The statements were delivered during the commencement of a four-day advocacy training aimed at equipping women with the necessary skills to meaningfully engage with the government and stakeholders to address and alleviate the challenges faced by those affected by the cyclone.
Speaking to MIJ Online, Sister Eneless Chimbali, the senior program officer for the All Africa Conference- Sister to Sister, conveyed deep concern regarding the lingering challenges faced by some victims of Cyclone Freddy in accessing basic amenities.
“From what I have observed with our sisters here, who are working on the ground, I think we are doing badly, especially in the recovery process” said Chimbali.
Chimbali stressed the pressing need for proactive initiatives to address the persistent difficulties affecting the affected communities emphasizing the urgency of implementing more robust recovery efforts to prevent further loss of life.
Concurring Chimbali’s perspective, Agnes Jonas, Chairperson of the Association of Women in the Religious Institutes of Malawi, highlighted that a significant number of individuals are presently enduring hardships, grappling with shortages in essential provisions such as food, shelter, clothing, and facing challenges with school infrastructure.
“It is therefore expected that the training will not be an end itself, but rather the knowledge , skills and capacity will be utilized for the benefit of the marginalized men, women, girls, boys and children” said Jonas.
Contrary to the observations made by the conference, Chipiliro Khamula, the spokesperson for the Department of Disaster Management, asserted that the country is facing challenges in securing funds exceeding 1.3 trillion kwacha for the recovery efforts following Cyclone Freddy.
“We have been trying so hard to mobilize resources, but you know with the global economy at hand things are not that rosy” said Khamula.
He urged the conference to step in and provide financial assistance to the government in aiding the affected communities in their recovery from the impact of Cyclone Freddy.
In 2023, Cyclone Freddy caused widespread devastation in southern Malawi, with a total of 659,278 individuals forced to leave their homes, with 676 lives lost, 537 people still unaccounted for, and over two thousand individuals suffered injuries.
