France swiftly mobilized its naval fleet and military aircraft to provide urgent assistance to its small Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte. The island group recently endured the most severe cyclone it has witnessed in almost a century.
Authorities are concerned that there may have been hundreds, and potentially even thousands, of fatalities.
Survivors roamed the streets, now cluttered with debris, in search of water and shelter following the devastating impact of Cyclone Chido on Mayotte. This impoverished territory, which happens to be the poorest in France and part of the European Union, saw entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble.
The aftermath was described as chaotic by resident Fahar Abdoulhamidi. Mamoudzou, the capital of Mayotte, experienced complete destruction with schools, hospitals, restaurants, and government offices all reduced to ruins.
The once picturesque hillside villages now lay in ruins, with broken trees strewn about and heaps of corrugated metal and wood scattered everywhere.
The entire archipelago was left without electricity, except for the capital city. This widespread power outage raised concerns about the availability of drinking water. In addition, the telecommunications network was severely affected, as many antennas were rendered inoperable.
The devastation caused by the disaster was described as “unimaginable” by the French Red Cross. They also stated that it is currently impossible to determine the exact number of victims, as rescuers are still searching for bodies in the rubble.
The power of the storm was underestimated as many ignored the warnings issued 12 to 24 hours before its arrival.
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Abdoulhamidi, 46, expressed his disbelief in the immense magnitude of the cyclone, stating, “Nobody believed it would be that big.” He further explained that the residents of bangas, the island’s vulnerable informal settlements, chose to stay indoors during the cyclone out of fear that their homes would be looted.
Abdoulhamidi further highlighted that the situation was exacerbated by the fact that numerous migrants residing unlawfully in Mayotte chose to forgo seeking shelter due to apprehensions about being deported. He emphasized that this created a distressing cycle, wherein these individuals found themselves trapped and unable to break free from their dire circumstances.
Authorities utilized military-style vehicles to clear trees from roads in order to enable rescuers and supplies to reach those in need. The destruction caused by the cyclone, which even affected the territory’s only airport, has made certain areas inaccessible to emergency teams. This has hindered the authorities’ efforts to evaluate the extent of the devastation and provide basic necessities to the survivors. Moreover, the majority of Mayotte’s residents continue to be without power.
According to Mayotte la 1ere, the official death toll stands at 20. However, French Health Minister Geneviève Darrieussecq has cautioned that these numbers are likely to be significant undercounts, considering the magnitude of the disaster.
The French Red Cross stated that they are sending over 20 tons of supplies to meet urgent needs. These supplies include drinking water, hygiene kits, and buckets for boiling water. The supplies are being shipped in from the nearby French territory of Reunion.
According to Mayotte Sen. Salama Ramia, those who managed to survive were also experiencing hunger. She mentioned in an interview with BFM-TV that individuals seeking refuge in shelters were faced with dire conditions.
“There is a severe lack of water and electricity, and the situation is becoming increasingly dire. The need for aid is urgent, especially when we witness the plight of children and babies who have nothing substantial to rely on,” she expressed concern.
According to Abdoulhamidi, people wasted no time in starting the rebuilding process, despite the challenges faced by authorities in providing assistance.
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“I couldn’t help but notice the sound of hammering echoing throughout the streets today,” he remarked, emphasizing the urgent need for the people in Bangas to rebuild their homes from the ground up.
Mayotte, an archipelago with a population of over 320,000 people, is known for its high population density. The majority of the inhabitants in this region are followers of the Islamic faith. Located between Madagascar and the African continent, Mayotte consists of two main islands and has been under French administration for more than a century, since 1841.
According to French media, the actual population could be significantly higher than reported due to the presence of migrants who have entered illegally from nearby Comoros and other nations. Some estimates suggest that the number of these migrants could reach up to 100,000.
According to the French weather service, Chido, a category 4 cyclone, unleashed winds exceeding 220 kph (136 mph) on the islands, marking the strongest cyclone to hit Mayotte since the 1930s, Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville stated.
According to Bieuville, the highest-ranking French government official in the island group, the number of casualties from the cyclone is believed to be several hundred people, and it could potentially be in the thousands.
According to him, counting the deaths would be a daunting task due to various reasons. One major challenge is the difficulty in accurately documenting the casualties, as the Muslim tradition of burying the deceased within 24 hours may prevent proper record keeping.
Rescue teams and supplies have been dispatched from France and Reunion, with Reunion serving as a crucial transit point for aid to reach Mayotte. Unfortunately, Mayotte’s airport is currently closed to civilian flights due to the extensive damage caused by the cyclone. As a result, only military aircraft have the capability to operate in and out of the airport. Authorities have stated that the airport is not expected to resume commercial flights until at least December 19.
The cyclone, after ravaging Mayotte, proceeded westward and reached Mozambique on Sunday. Reports from local media in Mozambique indicate that three fatalities occurred in the northern region, although this is an initial count subject to change. Aid agencies have issued warnings about the potential impact on over 2 million people in the country.
President Azali Assoumani of Comoros has stated that his nation has only suffered minor damage.
According to Darrieussecq, the health minister, the surgery, intensive care, emergency, and maternity departments of the main hospital in Mayotte suffered significant water damage. In response, authorities are working to set up a field clinic and send 100 more medical personnel to the area.
French authorities have announced that over 800 additional personnel are anticipated to arrive in the coming days. The French government has stated its intention to utilize satellite data in order to evaluate the extent of the damage, prioritize aid efforts, and provide guidance to rescue teams.
The people of Mayotte have previously voiced their dissatisfaction with the underinvestment and neglect their archipelago has experienced from the French government.
Around 75% of the population in the territory lives in poverty, which is a significant number. The median annual disposable income is only about one-eighth of that in the Paris metropolitan area, as reported by the French statistics agency INSEE. The territory has also experienced political unrest and an increasing level of support for the far-right National Rally party. These factors indicate a profound dissatisfaction with the current political situation.
The French Interior Ministry swiftly deployed 1,600 police and gendarmerie officers following the cyclone to assist the affected population and deter any potential looting.
During the months of December to March, the southwestern Indian Ocean experiences cyclone season, which has brought a series of powerful storms to southern Africa in recent years.
In 2019, Cyclone Idai devastated Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, resulting in the tragic loss of over 1,300 lives. Similarly, Cyclone Freddy claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people in multiple countries across the Indian Ocean and southern Africa region last year.
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