For six years, Malawi has been relentlessly pummeled by a series of climate-fueled disasters. From the devastating Cyclone Idai in 2019 to the recent El Niño-induced drought, the country has grappled with a relentless onslaught of extreme weather events, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
The human and economic toll is staggering. The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) estimates that these calamities have cost the nation a staggering USD 1.19 billion since 2015. “The recovery cost is estimated at USD 1.7 billion, mostly to support affected families and rebuild critical infrastructure,” reveals Fedson Chikuse, Dodma’s deputy director for recovery.
These figures paint a grim picture. Across Africa, the World Meteorological Organization reports that countries are losing an average of 2-5% of their GDP annually to climate-related hazards. For Malawi, a nation heavily reliant on agriculture, the impact is particularly devastating.
Cyclone Idai, a particularly brutal blow in 2019, left a trail of destruction, claiming hundreds of lives and displacing countless others. Pilirani Mtupa, a resident of Nsanje district, vividly recalls the devastation: “We have not been able to do farming activities like we used to do some time back. The subsequent disasters… did not spare us.”
The following year, Tropical Storm Ana brought further misery, causing widespread flooding and leaving 114,218 pupils without schools. Then came Cyclone Freddy in 2023, a monster storm that wreaked havoc across the country, claiming lives and destroying livelihoods. Rosebay Suman, a resident of Machinga district, poignantly recounts her loss: “I lost my son and husband that to date cannot be traced.”
The impact of these disasters extends far beyond immediate human suffering. El Niño, which struck earlier this year, triggered a severe drought, affecting nearly two million farming households. This, in turn, threatens to derail Malawi’s ambitious development agenda, “Malawi 2063,” which aims to transform the country into a prosperous nation by 2063.
“If you look at the impact experienced in the past three years, our attainment of MIP-1 [the first 10-year implementation plan of MW2063] hangs in the balance,” admits Thomas Chataghalala Munthali, director general of the Malawi National Planning Commission. “We may take a little more years to achieve that.”
Former President Joyce Banda, a vocal advocate for climate justice, emphasizes the urgent need for increased international support. “The amount that countries like Malawi require to rebuild is huge,” she stresses. “At the moment, Malawi is faced with a lot of economic challenges. The rebuilding process requires concerted efforts.”
As the frequency and intensity of climate disasters continue to escalate, Malawi faces an uncertain future. The resilience of its people and the effectiveness of its response to these challenges will determine whether the country can overcome these setbacks and achieve its development aspirations. The world must recognize the urgent need to support nations like Malawi in their fight against the escalating impacts of climate change.
