Scouts Response to Cyclone Freddy in Malawi
Cyclone Freddy, one of the most powerful and longest-lasting storms ever recorded in the southern hemisphere, made landfall in southern Malawi on 12 March 2023, causing heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides. It affected 14 of 28 districts, displacing 500,000 people. The cyclone caused severe damage on infrastructure, including power lines and telecommunication structures; flooded houses and roads and alot of lost possessions and this also cause death, there was a need for a prompt response.
The project addressed or responded to the victims by providing Disaster Risk Management skills through trainings to both Scouts and leaders, it also provided school materials to school going young people that had lost possessions, it provided disinfectants (Chlorine) as a way of controlling water borne Diseases such as Cholera, however is also opened the doors of collaborative efforts of the actors in the Response Program.
The project benefited 1,523 people and it has a great impact in the sense that most community members were drilled in Disaster Risk Response through the training and had acquired the needed skills in the recovery process and the Materials that were provided alleviate their suffering.
The Project has created a number of synergies and that will result in meaningful partnerships with other actors in the same program both local and international level and this will benefit the growth of the Scout movement in Malawi and its visibility.
The Scouts and leaders actions were the first responses in the rescue as such the government recognises the efforts that the Scouts are doing in their community that has also created a great impact.
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