A GLIMMER OF HOPE: REBUILDING LIVES AFTER CYCLONE FREDDY

by: Chikumbutso Gasper Willard - 17|05|2023

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In the wake of Cyclone Freddy's devastating rampage through the southern part of Malawi, the people of Nsanje bore witness to a heart-wrenching tale of destruction and despair. The gushing winds and relentless rains unleashed by the cyclone caused rivers to overflow, unleashing a deluge that engulfed 13 districts, including Nsanje, in a torrential flood.

Amidst the chaos, countless souls were robbed of their homes, their livelihoods, and their hopes for a better tomorrow. The tempestuous waters swept away houses, erasing the very foundations of families' lives. Crops withered beneath the watery onslaught, leaving fields of dreams submerged and barren. The grim toll of this calamity reached beyond the tangible, as 16 lives were cruelly extinguished.

For those left to grapple with the aftermath, seeking solace and shelter became an urgent necessity. Evacuation centers and makeshift school blocks offered a temporary respite from the tumultuous elements, but they could not heal the wounds left by the cyclone's wrath.

In the midst of this desolation stands Mang'ando Semba, a frail figure in her twilight years, who hails from the humble village of Fulukiya in the realm of Traditional Authority Mbenje. Her voice trembles with the weight of memory as she recounts the harrowing tale of her home's collapse. "It was a nightmare," she whispers, her eyes gazing into the distant past. "In that tempest, my house crumbled, threatening to entomb me within its debris. Yet, by some miracle, I heard a discordant symphony of destruction, and I fled. Now, all that remains are shards of shattered memories. All I can utter is that I possess nothing. The relentless hunger gnaws at our weakened frames, haunting both me and my orphaned children."

In the face of such profound suffering, a glimmer of hope emerges from the darkness. The Foundation for Active Civic Education (FACE), an unwavering local NGO nestled within the heart of Nsanje, rises to the challenge. United with the unwavering support of All We Can and YCare International, they cast their compassionate gaze upon the weary survivors. On that fateful day of May 16, 2023, they ventured forth, extending a lifeline to 250 households who had borne the brunt of Cyclone Freddy's rage.

With profound empathy and unwavering determination, FACE and its partners reached out to those in desperate need, bestowing upon them the sustenance required to nourish both body and soul. Each household, regardless of age or circumstance, was gifted with a precious offering—a 10 kg measure of maize flour, symbolizing the promise of sustenance and renewal. The beneficiaries were a tapestry of resilience: the elderly, the disabled, the heads of households who were women, and those burdened with the weight of orphanhood.

Among those touched by this compassionate act is Stanley Nyamithambo, a beacon of gratitude residing in the village of Melo. The cyclone, in its ruthless fury, had stripped him and his kin of their abode, leaving them destitute and bereft of a place to call their own. In the midst of his hardship, he now finds solace in the generosity of FACE. "With tears of thankfulness streaming down my face, I salute FACE and its steadfast partners," he declares, his voice laced with a mixture of relief and awe.