Cyclone Chido in Mayotte: how to help the victims?

Cyclone Chido, which hit Mayotte on Saturday December 14, swept away everything in its path: many buildings were destroyed, including the airport and the hospital center. The sheet metal and wooden buildings, which constituted major shanty towns on the archipelago, were swept away.

While an airlift has been set up from Reunion Island to deliver first aid, many associations are launching donation campaigns to help the victims.

► The Fondation de France launches an appeal for generosity

The day after the passage of Cyclone Chido, the Fondation de France announced it was deploying essential actions in Mayotte, to help victims (shelter, psychological support, etc.), relying on its partners in the Indian Ocean region. The foundation has also launched a call for donations, to be made online or by check.

With this money, the foundation intends to intervene, after the immediate relief phase, to support the people of Mahor, particularly the most vulnerable, to return to normal life. Its priority is to help families find a roof over their heads, basic amenities and rebuild community, associative and educational life. The Fondation de France also promises support for small artisan farmers.

► Apprentis d’Auteuil mobilizes

The Apprentis d’Auteuil foundation, which reminds us that it is present in Mayotte “for almost 20 years” appeals for public generosity “to respond to this humanitarian emergency, which affects an already very vulnerable population”.

“To date, we have had no news from the vast majority of the 4,500 young people supported by the foundation, the vast majority of whom live in slums that have now been destroyed,” explains Nathalie Lagier, director of Apprentis d’Auteuil en Outre-Mer, in a press release. Likewise, she assures, “we were only able to establish contact with barely a quarter of the 180 employees on the island.”

The Apprentis foundation supports 4,500 young people in difficulty and their families on site, through prevention and child protection, education, training and integration programs.

► Secours populaire promises long-term assistance

The French Secours populaire is also launching an appeal for financial donations, via its emergency fund, to send aid to the populations affected by the disaster in Mayotte and the Comoros. “While poverty is gaining ground every day and as Christmas approaches, losing everything overnight and rebuilding takes time, the action of Secours populaire and its partners will be long-term,” indicates the association.

A solidarity action should also be implemented as part of the Green Santas campaign to support families in the town of Tsingoni, in Grande Terre. In addition to helping disaster victims, Secours populaire, which calls on businesses and individuals to mobilize, plans to organize Happiness Days in order to “allow a breath of fresh air far from daily worries”.

► The Red Cross will provide emergency kits

The French Red Cross present in Mayotte and Reunion also said it was ready to intervene and launched an appeal for donations. “The situation on the ground is still uncertain and it is feared that the needs will be immense. But our teams are prepared and ready to intervene in this type of operation, with the population affected by this unprecedented disaster for decades. indicates Philippe Da Costa, president of the French Red Cross.

While the 320,000 inhabitants of the archipelago are still in shock, the Red Cross indicates that reinforcements of personnel were sent to the site from Reunion and France just before confinement. Reserves of drinking water and food are ready and can be mobilized as soon as “the situation will permit”.

► On site, the call for volunteers

On site, the Mahorese authorities are launching calls for volunteers to intervene in the disaster-stricken towns. “This Monday, December 16, a citizen mobilization will take place to continue removing branches and sheet metal following the passage of Cyclone Chido,” indicates the Mayotte national police on its Facebook account, which invites residents to meet in front of the Mamoudzou rectorate.

On the ground, Civil Protection volunteers, who also collect donations, are working to distribute essential equipment, clear out houses and support affected families.

The departmental council also launched its call for volunteers to help manage temporary accommodation centers. “Communal agents, on the front line, are struggling to meet all the requirements of this exceptional situation,” explains the department in a message posted on social networks.