The Government of Namibia has approved a donation of $100,000 to Malawi for survivors of Cyclone Freddy. The announcement was made by Namibia’s ICT Minister Peya Mushelenga during a statement issued after the fourth cabinet meeting. Malawi has received significant amounts of cash and humanitarian aid since President Lazarus Chakwera declared the Southern Region a state of disaster and appealed for assistance.
Cyclone Freddy, which hit southern Africa in late February, has caused more than 570 deaths and affected over half a million people in Malawi, as reported by the UN. Since its return, it has been confirmed that over 350,000 people in Malawi have been displaced. Mozambique, which was hit by Cyclone Freddy for the second time, is now facing a cholera outbreak. According to the National Institute of Health, there were over 19,000 confirmed cases of cholera across the country as of 27 March. The Quelimane district saw 600 new confirmed cases a day, and at least 31 people died of cholera in Zambezia. Over 3,200 were hospitalised between 15 and 29 March.
The aftermath of Cyclone Freddy has affected over 80 health centers in total, as reported by the INGD. Health workers are reportedly working in parts of the hospital that were not destroyed, while others work outside in the open due to a lack of space. The cyclone has caused significant damage and displacement, and the situation is expected to worsen as time goes on.
The donation from Namibia is expected to provide some relief to Malawi, which has been struggling to cope with the impact of the cyclone. While the international community has provided significant assistance, there is still much work to be done to ensure that survivors receive the help they need. The long-term impact of Cyclone Freddy is yet to be fully understood, but it is clear that it has caused significant damage and loss of life in the affected countries.