Cyclone Freddy has affected more than 500,000 people in Malawi

According to the United Nations (UN) report on Friday (March 17), Cyclone Freddy has left a devastating impact on Malawi, affecting more than 500,000 people and causing over 400 deaths in southern Africa. The cyclone has since dissipated after causing widespread destruction.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that more than 500,000 people have been impacted by a severe weather system in Malawi. This includes 326 deaths and over 183,100 individuals who have been displaced. The OCHA has cautioned that these numbers are likely to increase in the coming days.

The extreme weather hit Malawi at the end of the rainy season when rivers and water bodies were already at high levels, according to the OCHA. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) country director for Malawi, Paul Turnbull, stated on Friday that the country "will need significant support" to cope with the aftermath of the disaster.

Many regions have been cut off, making it difficult for assessment and humanitarian teams to provide assistance and deliver life-saving supplies. Turnbull pledged to assist around 130,000 individuals affected by the "tragic" situation, stating that the WFP is doing its best to ramp up support as quickly as possible under the circumstances.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE