The Catholic Church on the Copperbelt Province of Zambia has started mobilizing financial and material support for the victims of tropical cyclone Freddy in Malawi.
Catholic Diocese of Ndola Bishop Benjamin Phiri has called for financial and material support for the victims of tropical cyclone Freddy in Malawi.
The southern part of Malawi that covers at least three Catholic Dioceses has been hit by the tropical cyclone Freddy that has destroyed lives and property.
Bishop Phiri said Ndola Diocese is responding to a call from the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) that is seeking prayers and support for the victims of the cyclone.
Over 300 people have been confirmed dead as houses, bridges, roads and other facilities have been destroyed by the tropical storm.
“As you may be aware through news and other media platforms, the southern part of Malawi has been badly hit by the tropical cyclone Freddy, the tropical storm that has made extensive destruction to property and life from 12th March, 2023 and over 300 persons have been reported died, several of them injured, several of them injured and a of destruction to houses, roads, bridges and other facilities have been recorded,” Bishop Phiri wrote in a communication to all Catholics on the Copperbelt.
Tropical Storm Freddy led to people being swept away by raging waters, or being buried under landslides.
“Therefore in solidarity with people of Malawi, I, now make this appeal that you make donations in form of money and material support like clothes, shoes, beddings, mealie meal and other usable items. This donation should be done on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, 19th March 2023 and what will be collected should be brought to the Diocesan Pastoral Offices on Monday, 20th March 2023,” Bishop Phiri stated.
The Malawian government has set up 30 emergency camps for at least 20,000 people who have had to leave their homes.
President Lazarus Chakwera, who attended the funeral service of 21 victims at a primary school in the affected cities, declared 14 days of national mourning.
Malawi’s plight should be in everyone’s mind right now. The country was already having it hard even before the outbreak of cholera and now the lossof lives and property and damage caused by cyclone Freddy. Rising from this and restoring wht used to be there will be long and especially challenging.