Macron ends up in Mayotte after a devastating cyclone
Macron ends up in Mayotte after a devastating cyclone
French President Emmanuel Macron ended up on the Indian Ocean archipelago Mayotte, just a few days after the French overseas area was hit by a devastating cyclone.
devastating consequences of the cyclons
So far, at least 31 people have been confirmed as dead, but local officials fear that the final number could be significantly higher and that hundreds or even thousands could reach. When he arrived in Mayotte on Thursday, Macron thanked the airport employees who help to organize relief goods from La Réunion, another French overseas area. The French President then climbed a helicopter to fly over the area affected by the natural disaster.infrastructure badly damaged
Many parts of Mayottes are inaccessible to cyclone Chido, the worst storm that has hit the area of over 300,000 inhabitants in the past 90 years. The mighty storm destroyed residential areas, led to power failures, damaged hospitals and schools and destroyed the airport control tower.
overview of Mayotte
Mayotte is located in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa, west of Madagascar. The area consists of two main islands and has a land area that is about twice the size of Washington Dc.
social challenges and migration
The scope of the damage is difficult to estimate, including due to the numerous undocumented migrants who live in informal accommodation. It is estimated that around 100,000 undocumented migrants, many of them from the neighboring Comores and Madagascar, live in Mayotte, according to the French Interior Ministry.
reaction of the government
Mayotte has to struggle with poverty, unemployment, violence and a stricter migration crisis to which France has reacted with police measures and masses. The government declared the state of an "extraordinary natural disaster" on Wednesday evening, a procedure that has never been used before to cope with the crisis, according to the French Minister of Overseas. The authorities also have the Prices of consumer goods , such as food and hygiene products, in view of the bottleneck frozen.
health risks and aid measures
Local officials have warned that the lack of safe drinking water and inadequate sanitary conditions could lead to an outbreak of diseases. The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Mountains (IFRC) announced on Tuesday that they had lost contact with 200 of their volunteers in Mayotte and hurried to deliver relief goods, including water and medical care, to the affected communities.
logistics of emergency aid
French authorities distributed 120 tons of food before Macron's visit on Wednesday, reported the Reuters news agency. On Thursday, the prime minister's aircraft also transported more than four tons of food and health insurance, as Macron announced on social media.
The cyclone in detail
Zyklon Chido, a storm of category 4, moved through the southwestern Indian ocean last weekend, first hit Nordmadagascar before he quickly gained intensity and hit the weather service with wind speeds of over 220 kilometers per hour.
testimonies for destruction
Bruno Garcia, a resident of Mamoudzou, the capital Mayottes, described the destruction as "catastrophic" and "apocalyptic". He said: "There is nothing left. It is as if an atomic bomb had fallen on Mayotte."
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