Master the Tempest Is Raging - Peace Be Still -Hymn of the Week
We are deeply moved by the devastating impact of Cyclone Freddy on our brothers and sisters in Southern Africa. We stand in solidarity with the people of Madagascar, Mozambique and Malawi who have lost their homes, livelihoods and loved ones. In this time of sorrow and uncertainty, we lift up our voices to God in a song of hope and faith. Our hymn of the week is 'Peace be Still', a powerful reminder that God can calm the stormy seas and bring peace to our troubled hearts. We invite you to join us in singing or recording this beautiful hymn and sending it to [email protected]. Let us show our support and compassion to those who are suffering from natural disasters. Let us pray that God will heal their wounds and restore their joy.
Cyclone Freddy was an exceptionally long-lived, powerful, and deadly storm that traversed the southern Indian Ocean for more than five weeks in February and March 2023. Freddy is both the longest-lasting and highest-ACE-producing tropical cyclone ever recorded worldwide, breaking the record for all-time accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) in the Southern Hemisphere, a measure of the storm's strength over time. Freddy made landfall in Mozambique on February 26, 2023, with winds of 215 km/h (130 mph), causing widespread damage and flooding. It then moved inland over Malawi, where it caused more devastation and triggered landslides and mudslides that killed hundreds of people . Freddy also affected Madagascar and Reunion Island with heavy rain and strong winds. The death toll from Freddy surpassed 500 in southeast Africa as of March 20, 2023, making it one of the deadliest cyclones on record. Freddy also exacerbated a cholera outbreak in Malawi, where more than 700 people were infected by the water-borne disease. More than 100,000 people were displaced by the storm across Malawi and Mozambique, and many faced food insecurity and lack of clean water . Relief efforts were hampered by damaged infrastructure and limited access to some areas. Several humanitarian organizations provided assistance to the affected communities, such as ActionAid Malawi which launched a social cash transfer program for survivors of Cyclone Freddy.