Tropical Cyclone Freddy

Tropical Cyclone Freddy which hit Malawi on Saturday 11th March 2023, has led to loss of life, injury and devastation of crops, homes and infrastructure in parts of Southern Malawi. Malawi’s President Chakwera, on Monday the 13th March, declared a state of disaster in the Southern Region of the country. Damage has been caused by torrential rain, high winds, significant flooding, rivers bursting their banks and landslides, notably in Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Mwanza, Neno, Nsanje, Phalombe, Thylo and Zomba districts. Weather monitors have said that mountainous areas are especially vulnerable.

Cyclone Freddy is one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the southern hemisphere. The World Meteorological Organization says that Freddy, (which began off North Western Australia in the first week of February making landfall in Mozambique on Saturday 11th March), is also likely to have broken the record for the longest-lasting tropical cyclone.

Schools in 10 districts in the Southern region have been closed and the Government of Malawi’s Ministry of Labour have encouraged all but essential workers in affected areas not to report for work, unless their safety can be guaranteed.

The Malawi Red Cross is conducting search and rescue operations, administering First Aid and rushing casualties to hospital.

We at the SMP shall continue to share updates received from Malawi, our members and their Malawian partners. Our thoughts are with everyone affected.

• The Government of Malawi's Tropical Cyclone Freddy Emergency Response Plan - reliefweb, 13th April 2023
• Climate change: Cyclone Freddy has killed hundreds of people and destroyed key infrastructure in Malawi, which is paying a high price for our fossil fuel habit – Susan Dalgety, The Scotsman, 17th March 2023
• Southern Africa: Tropical Cyclone Freddy - Flash Update No. 7. (Latest updated documents) 14th March 2023
• Climate change: Scotland provides 'loss and damage' funding to Malawi - France 24, 14th March 2023
• Malawi death toll from Cyclone Freddy rises to 190 CNN, 15th March, 2023
• Record-breaking Cyclone Freddy kills nearly 200 in Malawi and Mozambique Sky News 15th March, 2023
• Storm Freddy: Malawi declares state of disaster as more than 200 killed BBC UK, 15th March, 2023
• Cyclone Freddy death toll in Malawi, Mozambique passes 100 Al Jazeera, 15th March 2023
• UK sends life-saving support to cyclone-hit Malawi, UK Gov, 18th March 2023

Major Appeals in Malawi

• The official appeal from DoDMA can be found here.
• The Malawi Red Cross Society have launched an appeal supporting those who are affected. Details of bank details can be found here.
• The official appeal from the Malawi Scotland Partnership can be found here.

SMP Members’/their Partners’ Appeals

• Association of Malawians in Scotland (AMS) have launched an appeal, they write "Raising Malawi again after Cyclone Freddy". Full details can be found on their GoFundMe page here.
• Rotary Club of Limbe have launched an appeal (includes bank details). They write "we are appealing to all our partner clubs around the world to help with our relief efforts."
• Building Future's in Malawi have launched an appeal. They write "planning to donate relief items such as clothes, food, and blankets to the victims. Therefore we are appealing to well-wishers for help". Details to donate can be found here.
• Zambesi Mission have launched an appeal. They work closely with Zambezi Evangelical Churches (ZEC) and River of Life Evangelical Churches across Malawi. They write "Many of these churches have been badly affected, including Chilobwe ZEC, which saw 10 members of one family tragically killed when their house was swept away. Any donations will be passed on to our local partners in the form of food, soap, utensils, shelter and house repairs according to the priority of need." You can donate here
• Mary's Meals have launched an appeal. They write "As well as providing food for the children who usually eat our school meals, Mary’s Meals is ensuring wider families also receive a daily meal in these shelters. Our mugs of likuni phala – a porridge fortified with essential vitamins and minerals". You can donate here.

Other organisations inviting support

Organisations who have contacted us inviting support*

• MAHECAS UK have launched the following appeal "Malawi Cyclone Freddy Relief Fund". Full details are on their Go Fund Me page.
• AN Nasihah Trust have launched the following appeal (includes bank details). They write “An Nashia Trust will be heading out to distribute shelter, food and medical supplies to those affected by the cyclone.
• Road to Relief have launched the following appeal, by “donating MWK 33,340 this provides the displaced with a pack containing 10kgs of ufa, 500 gram salt, 5 packets of soya pieces, 1 bar of soap, 100 gram of tea, 1kg of sugar, 2 kgs of rice, plastic sheeting, bucket, water guard, blanket (includes bank details).
• Thandiwe Hara and Brenda Malinki have launched the following appeal, full details are on their Go Fund Me page. They write "Funds received will be accounted for, it's a fast moving effort with multiple points of collection. This Go Fund Me is just one of the efforts by Dr Thandi and Onjezani and the team."
• Joshua Orphan and Community Care have launched an appeal. They write "We have just launched our emergency appeal to help our communities in the wake of the devastation caused by cyclone Freddy". Details on how to donate can be found here.
  
• FOSEMA have launched an appeal. They write "we are appealing to all our local and international organisations and friends to assist our people with the following; Relief funds, food and groceries, clothes, blankets, sanitary items, kitchen utensils, building materials are many more". Details on how to donate can be found here.

*The SMP cannot vouch for organisations which are not SMP members or are unknown to the SMP, but share details here in good faith, in a bid to support as much as possible, calls from Malawi.

We are thankful for our friends in Malawi who have shared the following images with us.