BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-As climate change continues to fuel extreme weather events in Malawi, disability rights advocates are warning that children with disabilities remain among the most vulnerable and overlooked groups during disasters.
During a media workshop held in Blantyre, the Parents of Disabled Children Association of Malawi (PODCAM) raised concerns over the lack of disability inclusive strategies in disaster preparedness and response. The event, supported by the Disability Rights Fund (DRF), aimed to engage journalists on how they can help amplify the voices of children with disabilities and push for systemic changes.
PODCAM’s Executive Director, Lyness Manduwa, said many disabled children face life-threatening barriers before, during and after calamities such as Cyclone Freddy, which devastated Malawi earlier this year.
“When a flood or cyclone occurs, these children are often left behind because evacuation messages don’t reach them in formats they understand and shelters are not accessible.Some families even face stigma when seeking help, leaving their children at greater risk,”Manduwa explained.
She added that while there has been progress in national disaster response, policies often fail to specifically address the needs of children living with disabilities, who may require specialized care, assistive devices, or sign language interpretation during emergencies.
One of the most pressing issues, Manduwa highlighted, is the absence of accurate data. Without reliable records on the number and location of children with disabilities, authorities are unable to plan effectively for relief distribution or evacuation efforts.
Grace Kachingwe, a mother from Bangwe Township whose son has albinism, shared how this lack of planning affects families like hers.
“During Cyclone Freddy, no one came to check if we needed help. My son is highly sensitive to the sun, yet the evacuation shelters were not equipped to accommodate his needs.If authorities had proper data, they would know how to prepare for children like him,”she said.
The impacts of climate change are particularly harsh in Malawi, where deforestation, poor urban planning and poverty intensify the effects of natural disasters. For children with disabilities, the consequences include increased health risks, loss of mobility aids and heightened psychological trauma.
She also encouraged the construction of disaster shelters with ramps and other accessibility features.
The workshop also placed strong emphasis on the role of the media. Journalists were urged to go beyond surface-level reporting by telling human-centered stories that highlight the unique struggles of disabled children while exposing gaps in disaster management systems.
Journalists who attended the event committed to working closely with organizations like PODCAM to ensure these voices are represented in newsrooms and public debates.
