The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) says it has not managed to mobilize over US$680 million required for Malawi to fully recover from the effects of Cyclone Freddy, which affected 2.2 million people across the country.

DoDMA spokesperson Chipiriro Khamula disclosed this during a two day capacity building training held in Mponela, aimed at strengthening journalists’ ability to effectively report on Disaster Risk Management (DRM).

He said it is reporting an entire cycle like this one issues of recovery because easy for those that are affected 

He said  disasters follow a cyclical pattern from preparedness and mitigation to response and recovery ,Khamula emphasized that journalists must engage at every stage to help communities better understand risks and build long-term resilience.

He said the department values the crucial role the media plays in disaster reporting but stressed that journalists should not only report when disasters occur instead, they should go beyond that.

“The media forms a direct link between the department and the people ,Journalists must report from an informed point of view to help build the resilience of vulnerable communities,” he said.

He added that journalists should be knowledgeable on disaster preparedness, prevention, and mitigation, even during actual disasters, they are expected to highlight the needs of affected people to support their recovery.

One of the journalists attending the training, Alpha Tafatatha from Chisomo Radio, said the workshop will improve how she develops and presents her stories to ensure they align with DoDMA’s communication standards.

She said the training will enable her to report from an informed and professional perspective and accurately communicate the messages the department wants to convey to the public.

Malawi is in the rainy season, which is associated with natural disasters like floods and cyclones.