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Mayotte after cyclone: clean-up work, death toll still unknown
After the devastating cyclone Chido, Mayotte is struggling with an unclear death toll and massive damage. Authorities are stepping up relief efforts as residents recover from the disaster.
Mayotte after cyclone: clean-up work, death toll still unknown
Mamoudzou, Mayotte - Authorities in the French overseas territory of Mayotte could confirm just 31 deaths from Cyclone Chido as of Wednesday, more than four days after it ripped through the Indian Ocean archipelago, wreaking havoc and potentially claiming thousands of lives.
The impact of the cyclone on Mayotte
Mayotte, France's poorest overseas territory, is home to many undocumented migrants whose slums were devastated by the storm. Many areas remain inaccessible, making the already difficult task of recording deaths and destruction even more difficult.
Relief measures and initial reports
Authorities in Mayotte are intensifying relief operations and plan to distribute 120 tons of food on Wednesday. The supply comes via an airlift from the French island of Réunion. Local officials and health workers report that hundreds or even thousands of people could be affected by the worst storm to hit the archipelago in 90 years.
Deaths and injuries
In addition to the 31 confirmed fatalities, the local prefecture said 1,373 people suffered minor injuries. However, a complete tally of deaths and injuries will take time. Bruno Retailleau, the acting interior minister, told BFMTV: "I can't give death figures because I don't know. I'm afraid the number of victims will be too high."
The challenges of counting
Some victims were immediately buried according to Muslim tradition before their deaths could be recorded. The situation is also complicated by uncertainties regarding the exact population of Mayotte. Official statistics put the population at 321,000, but many believe the actual number is much higher due to undocumented immigration, mainly from the Comoros and Madagascar.
Clean-up work in the capital Mamoudzou
In the capital Mamoudzou, residents searched through the rubble where their emergency shelters once stood. Others screwed together metal panels to cover the damaged roofs of houses that had survived the storm. Tree branches that withstood the 200 km/h (124 mph) gale force winds were draped with clothing thrown up by the cyclone.
The situation in Africa and support from Europe
The death toll in Africa rose to 45 in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi on Wednesday after the storm moved onto the mainland in Mayotte. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, informed the European Parliament that France had activated the EU civil protection mechanism, which can mobilize support from other countries.
The voices of those affected
Retailleau reported that two gendarmes were injured overnight during a curfew ordered after reports of looting. Nizar Assani, who runs a real estate business in Mamoudzou, recounted a death in his home community because there was no electricity to run a fan. He appealed to President Emmanuel Macron: "We don't need declarations of love. We need gestures of love."
Water supply and humanitarian crisis
Many households do not have access to running water. At the few places where water is available, people lined up to fill their jerry cans and buckets. The Mayotte Prefect's Official Gazette announced that half the population should have access to running water by Wednesday evening.
Demands for support and political responsibility
Three out of four people in Mayotte live below the national poverty line. Although Mayotte exports vanilla, coffee and cinnamon, the region is heavily dependent on support from metropolitan France and attracts comparatively few tourists. One of the ferry services between the two main islands resumed for civilians on Wednesday, allowing some affected by the storm to return to their families.
Appeal from Pope Francis
During his weekly audience at the Vatican, Pope Francis asked God to grant repose to the dead and provide necessary assistance to those in need. In France, opposition members had criticized Mayotte's neglect and the government's inability to prepare for natural disasters. Concerns about immigration and inflation have led to the overseas territory becoming a stronghold of the French far right.