Norway to provide support for Cyclone Freddy victims
Press release | Date: 22/03/2023 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
‘The long-lasting tropical cyclone has caused widespread devastation. Norway is providing NOK 60 million to support the enormous humanitarian needs in Malawi, Madagascar and Mozambique in the wake of Cyclone Freddy,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt.
So far, millions of people in Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar have been affected by the cyclone.
‘Norway’s allocation of NOK 60 million will be divided evenly between the three countries and will be channelled primarily through the UN organisations UNICEF and the World Food Programme. The funds will be used to provide life-saving food and medical supplies, shelter, protection, clean water and sanitation,’ said Ms Huitfeldt.
Several hundred thousand people have been internally displaced and some 500 have lost their lives. Many are missing, including a large number of children. The death toll and number of displaced people are quickly rising in all three countries. In addition, there has been extensive damage to infrastructure and crops.
State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bjørg Sandkjær will visit Malawi this week.
‘It is heart-breaking to see the destruction caused by the cyclone. Malawi is already contending with many challenges, and a disaster of this scale is the last thing it needs. We know that climate change will lead to more extreme weather, and it is therefore crucial that we take a long-term perspective in addition to providing emergency aid. We need to need to help countries such as Malawi to increase their resilience to future crises,’ said Ms Sandkjær.
During her visit to Malawi, Ms Sandkjær will announce that Norway will also be allocating an additional NOK 60 million in funding to efforts to strengthen food security and climate-resilient agriculture.
