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Malawi: President Assures Maximum Assistance to Cyclone Freddy Survivors


Blantyre — Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has assured people displaced by Cyclone Freddy that they will get the assistance they need.

Chakwera made the announcement Wednesday during his first visit to evacuation camps in Blantyre since he declared a state of disaster in all the flood-hit areas this week. The president also attended a mass funeral for the storm’s victims. The record tropical cyclone has killed more than 200 people in Malawi and scores more in neighboring Mozambique.

Chakwera said his government has set aside about $1.6 million to assist thousands of people affected and displaced by the cyclone in 10 districts in southern Malawi.

“I will soon call for a Cabinet meeting to endorse what we have so far budgeted for the crisis,” said the president. “Because if we try to follow financial approval procedures, we will put lives of the victims at risk.”

Displaced people say they lack food, clothes, clean water and soap.

During the president’s visit, the government donated several kinds of relief items, such as flour, clothes and buckets.

The president also attended a mass funeral for 28 people killed by the storm.

Chakwera said his government has asked neighboring countries to assist Malawi with rescue airplanes to complement the search-and-rescue efforts under way in the country.

Authorities in Malawi say more than 35 roads have been impacted by the floods, making it difficult to provide help to many cyclone victims.