By Chisomo Phiri
Barely hours after declaring Southern Region, a State of Disaster following the effects of Cyclone Freddy, Government has today channeled MK1.6 billion to Department of Disaster Management Affairs ( DODMA ) for cyclone interventions.
Minister of Finance Sosten Gwengwe has announced this during a press briefing at Naotcha Primary School in Chilobwe, Blantyre.
Gwengwe also disclosed that he will be making a personal appeal to members of Parliament for government to redirect some of the resources in the newly presented national budget towards recovery efforts.
In a related development, two country’s leading financial institutions FDH Holdings Limited and First Capital Bank have also donated K100 million each towards the cause.
According DoDMA, Cyclone Freddy death toll has risen from 99 to 190 in the Southern Region.
The department says currently,584 people have injured and 37 reported missing.
