Cyclone Freddy: A Reminder of the Climate Crisis – and the Responsibilities of Developed Countries

If there are still people skeptical of climate change, then Cyclone Freddy, which devastated parts of Madagascar, Mozambique and especially Malawi in March, must be irrefutable proof that global warming is a clear and present global danger. There has been heavy loss of life, property, and critical infrastructure. The cyclone, which according to the World Meteorological Organization could have been the longest lasting tropical cyclone on record, is believed to have formed in northwest Australia in February before travelling across the Indian Ocean. It hit the island nation of Madagascar and then traversed the Mozambican channel twice before making catastrophic landfall on March 11-12, causing fatalities and severe damage and loss in southern Malawi.

For Malawi, the unprecedented damage has been frightening and distressful. Heavy rainstorms accompanied by destructive winds brought down structures in its path. There have been severe floods and landslides, damaging key infrastructure including roads, bridges, power stations and water supply. The death toll was estimated to reach 1,200, with half a million people displaced. Mudslides and the floods swept away houses, killing people including the elderly, the disabled, women and children. People had their houses fall on them, some having to be rescued out of the rubble. Entire families perished at once. Farm land and livestock were devastated and washed away in a country where some 85 percent of the population of 20 million depend on agriculture for their livelihood.

Disaster response and relief

The extent of the damage in about 14 districts in the southern region of Malawi compelled the nation’s leadership to declare a state of disaster and to issue a worldwide appeal for support. An operation is underway to support those that have had their communities cut off. Over 500 camps have been set up in all the affected districts. But some parts of the country remain unreachable by land. The government released US$1.6 million to manage the aftermath of the calamity and the immediate needs of the victims, including provision of food, clean water, clothing, shelter and healthcare.  

More support is required because the floods and landslides struck at a critical moment in the agricultural calendar particularly for crops, which means a severely reduced harvest, leading to food insecurity, the loss of markets and people’s incomes. Reduced exports will worsen the country’s already prolonged shortage of foreign exchange, exacerbating inflation. The national budget deficit is set to widen further. The catastrophe will certainly impede Malawi’s progress towards achieving its Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets. 

Adaptation imperative

Beyond the immediate humanitarian response, the Cyclone Freddy disaster should trigger serious action to counter the climate crisis in the medium to long terms. Rehabilitation and reconstruction must involve significant adaptation efforts and resilience-building initiatives. This means the reform of land-use policies and practices, infrastructure development standards and regulations, human settlement and town planning. It will require the strengthening of relevant institutions to enhance the country’s capacity to cope with such disasters, which are likely to become more frequent and more devastating. (Major cyclones have hit the region in 2007, 2019 and 2022.) The agriculture sector which is the mainstay of economies in the region, must adopt climate-smart and precision farming methods. 

This is a defining moment for Malawi and its neighbors, Madagascar and Mozambique. They must use the tragedy of Freddy to catalyze efforts to build resilience. There is a window for strategic policy action to enhance disaster preparedness and risk reduction.   

A broken promise?

The Cyclone Freddy disaster is a continuation of what the Southern Africa has witnessed in recent years. Floods and storms have caused devastation to lives, property and livelihoods across the region. In the Horn of Africa and parts of East Africa, drought has caused famine for millions of people. Extreme weather and natural calamities across Africa are stalling socio-economic progress in many countries. The continent accounts for less than four percent of global emissions but suffers disproportionately. This latest catastrophe is a stark reminder of the injustices suffered by countries that contribute least to the causes of global warming.