World Bank pumps $100 Million towards Post Cyclone Freddy response

By Dalitso Samson…..

World Bank has pumped in $100 Million (about MK103 Billion) to Malawi Government to use in the post Cyclone Freddy response as the minister of finance, Sosten Gwengwe has outlined the plans of the government on the usage of the grant.

World Bank managing director for operations Anna Bjerde paid a visit to the Cyclone Freddy Victims on Thursday in Blantyre where she said the bank would be pumping in $100 million (K103 billion) to help government come up with a disaster management plan.

“We need to move fast to restore the livelihoods of these people. This cyclone hit the people at night and it was impactful. We need to prevent impacts in future.” Esther Misunju, a survivor who escaped with one child and lost others, recounted to the team how it happened and how she survived. She told the team that she had no home,” she said.

The government of Malawi has through the minister of finance disclosed their plans on how the money which they are about to get from the world bank can be spent.

Speaking during an interview Gwengwe said there are some procedures which will be followed to make sure that the money is well spent.

Gwendwe explained that after the Cyclone freedy hit the country of Malawi the State President, Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera made an international plea for well wishers to help the victims.

“After the Cyclone freedy hit the country of Malawi, our president Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera made an international plea for well wishers to help the country. But World Bank has responded immediately to give us the money which is 100 Million $ ” said Gwendwe.

In his speach Gwengwe continued that the government of Malawi has planned to Rebuild the houses of the people, reconstruction of bridges, reconstruction of the roads which were cut and bringing in Social Cach transfer to enable the Freddy victims to access loan for business.

Stewart Kondowe one of the Freedy victims who is also the deputy headteacher for Mpingwi primary school in Bangwe Blantyre said the Money has come in time and people needs help so fast because people are indeed suffering .

“Government should provide shelter to the people because they don’t have good places to stay. At first all people were living here at Mpingwi primary school the life was so hard because there are few toilets , and water was not enough including food. But these people been transferred to Namapata Youth Center camp where people are sleeping in tents.” Said Kondowe

He added that life in the camp is so difficult because Scabies had hit the victims, Due to highly crowded people have got higher chances of suffering from Cholera.

The country of Malawi needs over 500,000$ to replace all the damaged properties, and the government has shown that the fund will given from the donners.

Over 500,000 people have been displaced by the storm and public infrastructure have been damage such as schools , health infrastructure, roads and bridges and also the houses of the people.

Syclone Freedy has affected the 10 district of the southern part of Malawi which has killed 676 people and overs 500 people are still missing.