A student from the University of Manchester caught up in a deadly cyclone that hit parts of Africa has told of the destruction around her. Around 1,000 people are believed to have been killed and tens of thousands more left homeless after Cyclone Freddy hit Mozambique and Malawi last month.
Lizzie Beach was volunteering at a children's home in Malawi when disaster struck. Thankfully, where she was in Limbe, Blantyre, wasn't too badly affected, but for those in the surrounding communities the damage has been devastating.
“When Cyclone Freddy hit, I was at the children's home, and luckily, our house wasn't too badly affected. We had a few leaks in the roof and our garden partially flooded, but in general, we were okay.
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“The story, however, was not the same for a number of houses in the surrounding area, and for so many families across the southern districts of Malawi."
Lizzie, who is studying International Disaster Management and Humanitarian Response at UoM, arrived in Malawi in September 2022 and lives on site at the children’s home.
“At the home, I support the education and social development of the 23 children living there. I also teach in the mornings at a local primary school.
“There, I lead lessons for English and Maths for a broad range of classes: Nursery and Reception, and Years 1, 4 and 7."
When disaster struck in Malawi, known as the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’, Lizzie told the Manchester Evening News she was desperate to help those affected.
“The overall impact on the country has been devastating, with figures showing that nearly 500 people have died and over 500,000 have been displaced.
“The resilience and generosity, however, of Malawian people has astounded me. So many local people organised rescue efforts and schools opened their classrooms as temporary camps to shelter those who had lost their homes.".
Recent figures show that the cyclone has killed over 1,000 people, according to Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera.
Freddy is both the longest-lasting and highest-ACE-producing tropical cyclone ever recorded worldwide, as its duration stands at 5 weeks and two days.
While Lizzie says she felt “unable to physically help”, she turned to raising funds online and increased her volunteer work.
“I knew that I had a big network back in the UK that I could mobilise so I posted a lot on my social media, messaged friends and family, and contacted various press outlets that I had connections with.
“In the following weeks, I got involved as much as possible, volunteering with the Malawi Red Cross Society, distributing water, sanitation and hygiene products; joining Road to Relief, a local NGO who were providing relief packs to affected populations; and supporting Adillah, a woman who mobilised the cooking of 500+ hot meals every day and distributed to camps across Blantyre and Mulanje,” she said.
Lizzie says the response is now moving away from emergency relief, and transitioning into recovery.
“Support is needed to rebuild homes, allowing for the displaced populations to move back into their communities and in doing so, relieving schools of their classrooms to restart lessons for students.
“Road to Relief is still active in the response, and needs continued financial support.”
Lizzie, who has just under four months left in Malawi, says she has “fallen in love” with the country and plans to return to visit once she graduates.
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