The UK is providing urgently needed crisis expertise and
humanitarian supplies to Malawi following the devastation caused
by Cyclone Freddy.
Our support will provide emergency shelter to approximately 3,600
people and allow up to 12,750 people affected by the floods to
access safe drinking water, protecting them from disease.
UK Minister for Development and Africa MP said:
“We have been working since this horrendous cyclone hit to
support the emergency response in Malawi and provide life-saving
assistance to those who need it most.
“Working alongside the Malawians, our search and rescue and
medical teams are playing a critical role in helping ensure those
who have lost their homes in the floods receive much required
expert assistance and that we prevent a wider outbreak of
cholera.”
The initial UK package of assistance, which arrived in Malawi
today, comprises: 27 members of the UK’s International Search and
Rescue Team (ISAR); and six from the UK Emergency Medical Team
(EMT); specialist boats; and urgently needed emergency relief
items. The flight with our support left Birmingham airport this
morning.
This is in addition to the immediate help the UK provided to the
Malawian Government, when the cyclone hit last week, to help
launch emergency operations. This builds on the UK’s longstanding
partnership with Malawi, working together on crisis preparedness
and resilience. For example, the UK has supported Malawi tackle
cholera and Covid-19.
Over 300 people have died in the tragic event which has also left
nearly 20,000 people without homes.
The UK ISAR team will support Malawian authorities in the search
for survivors of the floods, assisted by their specialist
equipment which includes lightweight, nimble boats and a drone
team. These boats will be gifted to the Malawi Government for
future emergency use when the UK ISAR team departs.
The Emergency Medical Team will support hospitals in southern
Malawi to treat victims of Cyclone Freddy and save lives. Their
support builds on the existing cholera-focussed UK EMT who have
been in Malawi since January 2023, and are helping to reduce the
risk of the on-going cholera outbreak.
The UK government remains in close contact with the authorities
in the area and is ready to assist any British nationals
affected.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Cyclone Freddy made landfall in Mozambique on 11 March and
Malawi on 12 March. The flooding has already displaced 183,000
people.
- Malawi was hit particularly hard with what would have
previously been judged a 1-in-20 year weather event.
- While the wider picture remains unclear due to lack of
access, so far 326 people have died, while 796 have sustained
various injuries and over 200 people are still reported as
missing.
- Flooding, covering over 400 km2, is expected to persist until
next week. President Chakwera has declared a state of disaster.
- The UK team will be working with Malawian authorities to
rescue those stranded by the high flood waters.
UK-International Search and Rescue Teams
- The ISAR team deployed through the Foreign, Commonwealth and
Development Office following a request for assistance from
Malawi.
- The team is on permanent standby to mobilise and assist when
requested by disaster-affected countries. It always deploys as an
official UK government team once a request has been made for
assistance.
- Any UK ISAR team deployed is self-sufficient upon arrival and
provides its own food, water, shelter, sanitation, communications
and all necessary equipment to undertake search and rescue
operations for up to 14 days.
- This is to ensure no additional burden is placed upon a
country already suffering demands on its resources following a
sudden onset disaster.
- UK ISAR was established in 1993, is made up of 14 Fire and
rescue services, and has helped deal with the aftermath of
disasters around the world.
