Powerful cyclone has wreaked havoc across several countries in Africa, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The cyclone, feddy caused widespread damage to infrastructure, displacement of communities, and loss of life.
Impact on Communities: From coastal areas to inland regions, the cyclone’s fury has spared no corner. Villages and towns have been inundated with floodwaters, causing massive destruction to homes, roads, and agricultural lands. Reports indicate that thousands of families have been displaced, forced to seek refuge in temporary shelters.
Loss of Life and Injuries: Tragically, over 200 lives were lost, injured many and thousands displaced between Malawi & Mozambique in March 2023. Local authorities, alongside international relief agencies, are working tirelessly to provide medical assistance and support to those affected.
Infrastructure in Ruins: Key infrastructure, including bridges and communication networks, has been severely compromised, hindering rescue and relief efforts. The cyclone’s high winds and heavy rains have uprooted trees, downed power lines, and disrupted basic services.
Humanitarian Response: Humanitarian organizations are mobilizing resources to provide emergency aid, including food, clean water, shelter, and medical supplies. International partners and neighboring countries are rallying together to assist affected nations in their time of need.
Government Measures: National governments have declared states of emergency and activated disaster response mechanisms. Urgent appeals for international assistance have been made to address the extensive challenges posed by the cyclone’s aftermath.
Environmental Concerns: Beyond the immediate human impact, the cyclone has raised concerns about environmental repercussions. The destruction of natural habitats, contamination of water sources, and potential disease outbreaks are among the pressing issues that require attention.
Global Solidarity: World leaders and international organizations have expressed solidarity with the affected nations, pledging support to help them recover from the devastation. Calls for donations and assistance have resonated globally as communities unite to provide aid.
Recovery Ahead: As the cyclone begins to recede, affected countries are now faced with the daunting task of rebuilding shattered communities and restoring essential services. The road to recovery will require sustained efforts, resources, and international cooperation.
Mitigating Future Risks: The devastating impact of this cyclone underscores the urgency of addressing climate change and enhancing disaster preparedness. Collaborative efforts to build resilient infrastructure and implement early warning systems are vital to reducing the risks posed by future natural disasters.
Narration
Wet clothes hang from the windows of a school in Kapeni, a district of Malawi’s commercial city of Blantyre, where hundreds of people have sought shelter from deadly Cyclone Freddy.
Packing powerful winds and rain, the cyclone’s return triggered floods and mudslides that washed away homes and buried their inhabitants
Mayeso Chinthenga, 14, said he was out fetching for firewood when he and other boys “saw rocks rolling down the mountain” and ran for dear life.
“Some of our neighbors died on the spot”, he said. He and his family escaped only with their lives.
“Our house was destroyed. We lost everything,” said Chinthenga. “Some of our neighbors died on the spot”.
The family-of-five came to Kapeni Demonstration School on Monday after the premises were opened to accommodate some of the at least 19,000 people that authorities say have been displaced by the storm.
“A lot of people arrived here seeking shelter, they said they were running away from the mudslide,” said Florence Chiwale, a teacher at the school.
“We decided to open the classrooms for them.”
– Nearly 200 dead –
Almost 200 people have died in Malawi since Freddy pummeled through southern Africa at the weekend for the second time within a few weeks.
Relief workers expect the tally to rise.
About 1,000 survivors are currently living in this makeshift evacuation center near the hard-hit southern city of Blantyre.
Most are women and children. They sleep on concrete floors, with no mattresses.
Students’ desks have been placed against classroom walls to make space for them.
“The classrooms have no lights, we are using solar lamps,” said local aid worker Rose Longer.
Outside everything is damp.
Aid is trickling in, but not in large quantities. Most has been provided by well-wishers, said Longer.
“We have distributed rice and beans and drinks that have been donated.”
Three women volunteered to prepare meals. They were cooking traditional cornmeal porridge in the school kitchen.
“This is the first food that I have received since I arrived,” said Chinthenga, holding a bag of freeze-dried rice with beans and meat.
Government declared a “state of disaster” in the affected regions to allow it pull in emergency resources and respond to the crisis while appealing for local and international aid.
After brewing off Australia in early February, Freddy crossed the Indian Ocean and made landfall on southeastern Africa in late February, before returning at the weekend to deliver a second harder blow.
Cyclone Freddy, which reached landlocked Malawi early Monday morning after sweeping through Mozambique, last week unofficially broke the World Meteorological Organization’s benchmark as the longest-lasting tropical cyclone on record.
That was set in 1994 for a 31-day storm named John and researchers will now study whether Freddy is the official new titleholder, a process likely to take months.
Conclusion: The cyclone’s rampage across Africa serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerability of communities in the face of nature’s wrath. As the affected regions work towards recovery, the global community’s response and commitment to supporting those in need will be crucial in restoring hope and rebuilding lives.
Ohene Anochie is a journalist with a passion for covering global humanitarian issues and environmental challenges.
Anochie’s Report | Climate.