SAINT-DENIS, Reunion (AP) — A nighttime curfew will be enforced starting Tuesday evening in an effort to restore order in Mayotte following Cyclone Chido, the most severe storm to hit the French Indian Ocean archipelago in 90 years. The French military is dispatching four to five planes daily carrying up to 50 tons of aid, including food, water, and medicine. Hundreds of military personnel have been deployed to Mayotte since the weekend.
The official death toll from Saturday’s cyclone has risen to 22, with over 1,400 people injured, 48 of them critically, according to the latest report from Mayotte Hospital as cited by Ambdilwahedou Soumaila, the mayor of Mamoudzou, the capital. However, authorities are concerned that the actual number of casualties could be much higher.
“The immediate focus is on securing water and food,” Soumaila stated in an interview with RFI radio, highlighting the urgency due to the decomposition of bodies posing a potential health hazard. A curfew has been implemented from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. to prevent looting of damaged structures.
With the lack of electricity after dark, Soumaila expressed concerns about opportunistic behavior, emphasizing the need for security measures. Efforts to account for victims, especially undocumented migrants, are proving challenging, as mentioned by Mayotte lawmaker Estelle Youssouffa in an interview on France Inter radio.
The devastation caused by Cyclone Chido has left survivors in shock, with nearly 70% of Mayotte’s population severely impacted and entire neighborhoods destroyed. Aid operations are ongoing, with French military aircraft delivering essentials daily. However, the island continues to face challenges such as power outages and communication disruptions.
French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to visit Mayotte and announce a national mourning period, while initial funds of 655,000 euros ($687,000) have been allocated to address urgent needs. The storm has highlighted the vulnerability of Mayotte’s impoverished population and has also sparked criticism toward Prime Minister François Bayrou for his handling of the crisis.
Bayrou’s decision not to travel to Mayotte and his absence from a key meeting have drawn criticism, although he clarified that he was closely coordinating with the interior minister. As efforts to recover and rebuild continue, the island remains in a state of emergency, requiring sustained support and resources.
Government. Bayrou was designated as the prime minister by Macron just last week following a momentous parliamentary decision that led to the downfall of the preceding administration.——Nouvian conveyed this information from Paris.——AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
