Urgent Need for Mitigation and Adaptation Measures as Cyclones and Climate Change Impact Malawi

Cyclone Freddy- March 2022

Cyclone Idai - March 2019

Cyclone Kenneth - April 2019

Cyclone Desmond - January 2016

Cyclone Chedza - January 2015

These cyclones among others have caused significant damage to infrastructure, homes, crops, and lives, highlighting the importance of preparedness and mitigation measures. Cyclones have been recurring in the southern region of Malawi in recent years, causing significant damage to infrastructure, homes, crops, and lives. Despite this, there has been little efforts to mitigate their impacts. This lack of action has left communities vulnerable to the devastating effects of cyclones, with limited resources to prepare for, respond to, and recover from these events. Climate change has been linked to the increase in frequency and severity of natural disasters such as floods, droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, and cyclones. The rise in greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, has led to an increase in global temperatures and changes in weather patterns, resulting in more extreme weather events. To address the impacts of climate change and natural disasters, it is crucial to take both mitigation and adaptation measures. Mitigation measures aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, slow down climate change, and prevent future natural disasters from occurring. Adaptation measures, on the other hand, focus on reducing the risks and impacts of natural disasters that have already occurred or are likely to occur in the future.

Anyway SKILLS ARE USELESS IF THEY CANNOT SOLVE OR OFFER SOLUTIONS TO PRACTICAL PROBLEMS

A Geographical Information Systems (GIS) lecturer Mr. Emmanuel Chinkaka from the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) has developed a real time GIS based Cyclone Freddy Disaster Information System. Let us hope Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) in Malawi and relevant stakeholders will reach out to him to adopt the platform and prevent unnecessary loss of life and destruction to property due to poor and uniformed decision making. If you look closely at the dashboard or access it here (GIS DASHBOARD - EFFECTS OF TROPICAL CYCLONE FREDDY IN SOUNTHERN MALAWI (arcgis.com)) you will find the GIS data that shows the extent of Cyclone Freddy floods in the southern region of Malawi and how it is  providing valuable information for decision-making in various ways. Here are a few key issues and insight from the data:

1. Identifying High-Risk Areas: The flood extent data can help in identifying the areas that were most affected by the flood, and therefore are at higher risk of future floods. This information can assist in developing plans for flood preparedness and response in those areas.
2. Assessing Damage and Losses: The GIS data can be used to assess the extent of damage to infrastructure, homes, and crops caused by the flood. This information can be used to prioritize response and recovery efforts and to estimate the cost of recovery.
3. Planning for Relief Efforts: The flood extent data can assist in identifying the areas that require immediate relief efforts, such as emergency food, shelter, and medical assistance. This information can be used to prioritize the distribution of relief resources and to coordinate with aid organizations.
4. Supporting Infrastructure Planning: The flood extent data can help in identifying the infrastructure that was most affected by the flood, such as roads, bridges, and water supply systems. This information can be used to prioritize infrastructure repairs and upgrades and to ensure that future infrastructure planning considers the risks of flooding.

The GIS data shows the extent of Cyclone Freddy flood in the southern region of Malawi and it can guide decision-making by providing critical information to support planning, response, and recovery efforts. Most importantly this information can help in reducing the risks and impacts of future floods and in building more resilient communities.

Furthermore, by looking at the historical data, Malawi is vulnerable to cyclones, which can cause significant damage to infrastructure, homes, crops, and lives. Here are some preventive measures that Malawi through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) can adopt to mitigate the risks of cyclones:

Early Warning System: Malawi can develop an early warning system to alert communities about incoming cyclones. This system can use weather monitoring technologies and mobile phones to send alerts to communities in high-risk areas. This can provide communities with sufficient time to prepare for the cyclone, such as moving to higher ground, securing their homes, and evacuating if necessary.

Community Preparedness: Communities can be trained on how to prepare for cyclones, including identifying safe shelters, storing food and water, and creating emergency plans. This can be done through community-based training programs, which can also include drills and simulations to ensure that communities are ready to respond to a cyclone.

Infrastructure Planning: Malawi can consider the risks of cyclones when planning infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and water supply systems. Infrastructure should be designed to withstand strong winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding, and be built in safe locations that are less vulnerable to cyclones.

Land Use Planning: Land use planning can be used to prevent or mitigate the risks of cyclones. This can include avoiding building homes and infrastructure in high-risk areas such as floodplains or steep slopes. It can also involve promoting green infrastructure, such as planting trees and preserving wetlands, which can help absorb rainwater and reduce the risks of flooding.

Insurance and Risk Transfer: Malawi can consider the use of insurance and other risk transfer mechanisms to help individuals, communities, and businesses recover from the impacts of cyclones. This can include providing affordable insurance to homeowners and businesses, or establishing a national disaster relief fund to help cover the costs of recovery.

Relocation: This is another mitigation measure that involves moving people and communities away from areas that are vulnerable to disasters such as floods, landslides, earthquakes, or hurricanes. Relocation aims to reduce the risk of exposure to hazards and their associated impacts, which can include loss of life, damage to property and infrastructure, and economic losses, it is an uphill task but with the right people and incentives, it can happen.

Kudos Mr Emmanuel Chinkaka, we need more Malawians like you sir!!!

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