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UNESCO assesses the damage caused by Cyclone Freddy to Malawi's culture and heritage
On 11 March 2023, the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) of Malawi announced that Tropical Cyclone Freddy would trigger rains exceeding 150mm on 12 March persisting to 14 March. The record-breaking tropical cyclone developed in the western Indian Ocean and moved eastwards, causing torrential rains, flooding, and catastrophic debris flows (also known as mudslides) across the southern part of Malawi.
According to statistics from the Government of Malawi, multiple flood events and landslides were reported in Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Machinga, Mangochi, Mulanje, Mwanza, Neno, Nsanje, Ntcheu, Phalombe, Thyolo, and Zomba local authorities.
people affected by Cyclone Freddy.
In the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) published in late April by the Government of Malawi, the document assesses the damage of Tropical Cyclone Freddy on a macroeconomic, human and social development level. It is within this context that UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa, with the support of the Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF) has launched a 20-day mission, led by an international PDNA expert and two local experts in the heritage and cultural and creative industries, in southern Malawi to specifically assess in detail the effects of Tropical Cyclone Freddy on the aforementioned sectors.
The mission seeks to determine the extent to which archaeological sites, cultural landscapes, and historical and monumental buildings have been damaged. Consultative meetings will be held with creatives and artists to assess the impact of the cyclone on their livelihoods. Cultural practitioners and other stakeholders will be interviewed, and their feedback will be invaluable to the final document 鈥淧ost-Disaster Needs Assessment of Malawi's Culture Sector鈥. Additionally, the three consultants will hold post-disaster needs assessment workshops aimed at strengthening resilience and the capacity to mitigate the risks caused by extreme disasters, the first of which happened in Lilongwe with 40 stakeholders on 23 March 2023. In collaboration with the Government of Malawi, the three consultants will produce this evidence-based Post-Disaster Needs Assessment in the culture and heritage sectors, as well as propose potential recovery efforts.
