Billions Needed for Disaster Recovery, DoDMA Spox Says
"The devastation is immense," DoDMA spokesman Chipiliro Khamula said Thursday.
LILONGWE, Malawi- The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) requires $2.2 billion to fully recover from natural disasters that have struck Malawi since 2015, a top official revealed Thursday, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
Principal Information Management and Public Relations Officer Chipiliro Khamula said in an interview that the country has faced unprecedented flooding and storms over the past eight years, causing massive damage and displacement.
The worst came in 2015, when floods Khamula described as "disastrous" wreaked havoc across Malawi.
In 2019, Tropical Cyclone Idai affected one million people, leaving 60 dead, 100,000 displaced and 700 injured.
Cyclones Ana and Gombe brought further destruction, which Khamula said has overwhelmed DoDMA's capacity to recover.
"The devastation is immense," he said. "So far there have been few if any full recoveries since the 2015 floods to Tropical Cyclone Freddy in 2023."
Khamula said DoDMA requires the $2.2 billion to rebuild after the storms and prepare for future extreme weather events, which are expected to increase in frequency due to climate change.
The department has relied heavily on aid from NGOs and other donors to assist disaster-stricken areas and districts. Khamula praised their "tireless assistance" as critical to DoDMA's efforts.
But far greater resources are needed for Malawi to rebound and strengthen resilience, he emphasized.
"The funds would truly help our nation rebuild," Khamula said.