South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa has, on behalf of the Government and people, offered condolences to the governments and citizens of Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar which have been affected by Cyclone Freddy.
In a statement released from his office on Tuesday, the President Ramaphosa said, “As Government and people of South Africa, we are saddened by the loss of human life, livestock, infrastructure and property experienced by our sister nations”.
This tropical cyclone, which originated off the north-west of Australia in recent weeks and has travelled across the Indian Ocean, resulted in nearly 140 deaths, a high rate of injury and the loss of public infrastructure and private property in the three Southern African states.
The President said further that, “Our thoughts are with the many families who have lost loved ones in this disaster and we share the wishes of the people of Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar that these extreme weather incidents will subside so that recovery and rebuilding efforts can proceed”.
It was reported that Freddy death toll has now climbed to 190 in Malawi as the country’s President Lazarus Chakwera has declared a state of disaster and appealing for international support.
Schools are being shut down in Malawi over safety concerns after Cyclone Freddy wreaked havoc in Mozambique. Heavy rains in southern Malawi have washed away roads and disrupted power in the country.
A spokesperson for Malawi’s national police expressed how bad the situation is stating that people are being evacuated to “higher grounds and areas that are a little bit safe.”
Freddy, on track, to become the longest-lasting storm on record, barrelled through southern Africa at the weekend for the second time within a few weeks, making a comeback after a first hit in late February.
More than 11,000 people were affected by the storm, said the United Nations.
The impact of the cyclone has piled more woes on a country grappling with the deadliest cholera outbreak in its history, which has killed over 1,600 people since last year.
“Severe weather events such as these are likely to exacerbate the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera,” the UN children’s agency UNICEF warned.