A BRIEF JOURNEY INTO FREDDY CYCLONE (By Pastor Goster Kumbulani)

More than three weeks since a tragedy befell Southern Region of Malawi caused by persistent torrential rains, unprecedented flooding and cyclone Freddy, people from three villages Ndawala,Magambe and Nagoli, are still living in a make shift camp at Nkhulambe Primary School. There are more than 1500 people living at Nkhulambe camp who were made homeless after their houses were washed away as a result of the tragedy.

A visit was made on 29th March 2023 to visit the camp and some affected families to appreciate and distribute some Relief items from Mrs. Mkwezalamba with the diaspora team in US and sister church, Christian Family International who supported in cash and kind. It was the day that brought some smiles to the cyclone survivors when the visiting team delivered some food items. They had a meal on this day because it was reported that they had stayed some three days without a bite of food.

Classrooms meant for education for their children have now become, common living rooms during the day and mass bedrooms in the night. The dignity and sovereignty of the families from Nkhulambe Camp as it is in other camps is now seriously compromised. It is not a good site and life in the camp and undesirable especially for women and children living here

The Head teacher, Precious Seule at the Primary School lamented the situation was so tragic and unforgettable. “The situation is unbearable for the community and the schools in this zone. We are overwhelmed indeed as we have lost 84 people to Freddy Cyclone among which 34 are pupils. Many people are still missing. Due to the poor and destroyed roads and bridges, we are not reached with food and other basic items. What you have donated today, we only see the hand of God because for the past three days there has been shortage of food here.God bless you, “he said. The visiting team delivered 3 bales of maize flour,2 bales of sugar,2 bales of soya pieces,1 bale of salt, a carton of cooking oil,3 cartons of soap,5 bales of assorted clothes and shoes for women, men and children. (Head teacher, number 4 from left)

Esteria Muhita,a widow, aged 51yrs is one of the homeless women who has found refuge at the camp. Esteria lives with 2 children as well at the camp and their hope is slim after experiencing the destruction of their house and she lost all her household belongings in the process. Nothing was recovered. They escaped death by a whisker when they left their house just at the time the furious water carrying big rocks and trees hit one of their house’s walls. They managed to run for their lives. This was happening at 3 am of 13th March 2023.‘It was in the early hours of Monday, 13th March, 2023 when water gashed into our house and as soon I opened the door more water filled in and I knew we were in trouble. I quickly reached out to my children and pulled them out. I literally saw all my utensils, clothes and blankets including my food (maize flour) being washed away. Immediately afterwards our house finally succumbed to the flush floods and it was razed down, leaving me and my children homeless.” Esteria recalls her ordeal with a lot of pain prescribed all over her face. (In the picture above,Esteria is the third one from right in black blouse)

Access to food, water and medical supplies is a big challenge at the camp. Living conditions are appalling without adequate bathrooms and no privacy.

“Since we arrived here we have been receiving some food rations erratically and not adequate enough to meet our daily needs. People here eat once a day. Supplementary food is not available for our under five children putting them at high risk of malnutrition” explains Esteria.

Sleeping in the night is a nightmare, classrooms are not available every day and half the nights Esteria` and her colleagues sleep in the classrooms with open holed windows increasing their risk to physical threats as well as vulnerability to infection. It is even worse for elderly women, people with disabilities, people on ARVs, girl children, lactating and pregnant women.

John Makwale, 20 years old is among the young people affected by Freddy Cyclone. This is a nephew to Beatrice Kumbulani aged 68.At the time of the terrifying experience was sick and could not manage to run for her life but John braved the mighty waters to rescue her. She was already covered under water and a stone hit her on both legs. Tragedy fell upon his family when he returned to rescue his wife and two children. The wife was holding their two children while John was trying to take them in his hands but one of the daughters Tiyanjane, 6, fell off the mother’s hand into the rushing waters. The child was carried away with water and went missing for three days. Her body was recovered and buried 16th March, 2023.John and his wife are both traumatized with the situation and find it difficult to forget how they lost their beloved daughter. Has to bear the brunt of sleeping together with elderly women every the night. Everything looks like a dream to her and she can only hope she will wake up soon. (John in blue shirt in the picture showing where his daughter was carried away by waters)

Christ’s Eagles International Church in collaboration with the well-wishers like Christian Family Church International and Mrs. Mkwezalamba with diaspora team mobilized resources in form of food items, 1 mattress, laundry soap, clothes and shoes to support the Cyclone Freddy survivors in response to the government call. However, the need is still enormous. There are thousands of homeless people living in over 100 camps following the floods and cyclone Freddy which affected nearly 11 districts mostly from the Southern part of Malawi in early March .The survivors are hopeful that they will not keep staying in the camp but look forward to the day when they will live a dignified life again in their own homes.

THE VISIT AND DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF ITEMS IN PICTURES

Part of the area of our village which has seen the razing down of houses with Freddy Cyclone

Relief food items, clothes and mattress ready for distribution to the camp and five family households affected

CONCLUSION

The visit was a success though with some difficulties from Chiringa to Nkhulambe due to the damaged road and bridges. It is worth explaining that the damage caused by the cyclone is so overwhelming. There is need to continue to pray for the government and other well-meaning well-wishers to join hands in rebuilding of the areas affected. The consignment was shared with five households from my family members whose houses were also washed away with water. Most of all relief items were delivered at the camp. The balance of MK22, 570.00 is cash available and will be added to the resources being mobilized by the church to purchase more relief items.