President Lazarus Chakwera has declared 14 days of mourning for people who have lost their lives due to flooding caused by the rampaging Cyclone Freddy that has left a trail of destruction in the south of the country.
At least 225 people have been killed over the past few days mostly due to mudslides caused by Cyclone Freddy.
Chakwera said in a televised message on Wednesday evening that flags would fly at half-mast during the first seven days of the mourning period.
He said his government would use the mourning period to raise awareness about natural disasters and galvanise Malawians into action to build strong response mechanisms in preparedness for future natural disasters.
“These natural disasters will continue to happen and we must know that no one else but us is going to rebuild what we have lost or prepare our country to stand the next disaster better than this one,” Chakwera said.
He announced that the government has set aside 1.6 billion Kwacha (about US$1.5 million) to support families affected by the cyclone which has also affected neighbouring Mozambique.
Some 700 people have been injured and over 18,600 houses have been destroyed, with more than 83,000 individuals now living in shelters provided by the government and humanitarian agencies.
JN/APA