The United Nations (UN) has appealed for the donation of $70.6 million to provide life-saving assistance to about 1.1 million people in Malawi affected by the passage of Tropical Cyclone Freddy.

Development Diaries reports that the appeal was made in line with the new revised Flash Appeal for the country to reflect the current humanitarian challenges.

Cyclone Freddy left a trail of devastation across 15 districts in southern Malawi as Africa continues to witness a series of climate shocks despite being the least contributor to the climate emergency.

At least 676 people have died, and this figure is expected to rise in the days ahead, while 659,278 people were displaced in 747 camps, according to the government.

‘Freddy’s passage has caused death, destruction, displacement and devastation on a horrifying scale at a time when Malawians were already facing high levels of food insecurity and a cholera outbreak’, UN Resident Coordinator in Malawi, Rebecca Adda-Dontoh, said in a statement.

‘Humanitarian partners continue to support the government’s relief efforts following Cyclone Freddy, but the needs are truly enormous, with some traditional authorities in Nsanje and Phalombe districts still unreachable by road’.

The Flash Appeal requirements for the Freddy response followed the $45.3 million called for this year by humanitarian partners for the response to cholera.

However, the total revised Flash Appeal has now reached $115.9 million as the country continues to face its deadliest cholera outbreak in recent history in addition to the devastating impact of the passage of Cyclone Freddy.

Development Diaries joins the UN in calling on donors and other international development partners to support the revised appeal with funding to enable a swift response to the crisis.

Source: United Nations

Photo source: UN Women Africa