Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera has declared 14 days of national mourning after cyclone freddy left over 200 people dead in the country and hundreds of others missing.
"In view of the extent of the loss of life caused by this disaster, I have directed that all of us as a nation observe 14 days of mourning and that all flags fly at half mast for the first seven of those days," Chakwera said in an address to the nation.
According to Chakwera, an emergency cabinet meeting approved the release of 1.6 billion kwacha ($1.5 million) to help the hundreds of thousands of Malawians affected by the storm.
"I can already tell you that this money will be insufficient," Chakwera stated.
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"The level of devastation we're dealing with here is greater than the resources we have."
"This cyclone is now the third to assault our country in just 13 months. A testament to the realities of climate change," Chakwera said in a televised address.
"The damage caused by this latest strike is the worst our country has seen in decades."
Freddy formed off the coast of Australia in early February and travelled through the Indian Ocean before making landfall in late February in the southeastern part of Africa. Freddy returned over the weekend, wreaking havoc in Mozambique and Malawi.
Cyclone Freddy devastated the Malawian town of Blantyre, and survivors watched in horror as the rains continued to fall on what remained of their homes and businesses. More than 59000 people have been impacted. In comparison, 19000 people have been displaced and desperately need humanitarian assistance.
Authorities in Malawi are concerned that the number of people killed by the cyclone will rise significantly once the cyclone has passed and the rains have stopped, and rescue workers dig those buried in the mud.
