Upon approaching Petite-Terre, the smaller island of Mayotte, the devastation wrought by Cyclone Chido becomes glaringly evident. The landscape, once lush with coconut trees atop rolling hills, now lies desolate and charred following the storm’s rampage through the islands last Saturday. The force of the 220km winds has stripped trees of their leaves, leaving them horizontal and barren. The airport’s signal tower stands twisted and mangled, a testament to the storm’s ferocity.
Even the nearest airport hotel, known for its sturdy structure and amenities like Wi-Fi and electricity – rare commodities on the island – now bears a damaged roof and shattered windows. Tens of thousands in Mayotte are grappling with water shortages as a curfew is enforced. French authorities have confirmed the tragic loss of at least 31 lives, with thousands still unaccounted for, sparking fears of a significant rise in the death toll.
The territory has been declared under a state of exceptional natural disaster, recognizing Mayotte as one of France’s poorest regions, where many residents reside in informal settlements. French President Emmanuel Macron witnessed similar scenes of devastation on the main island of Grande-Terre, where he arrived with essential aid supplies. However, some residents attribute the extent of the destruction to insufficient investment by the government.
Mayotte now finds itself embroiled in both a physical and political crisis, exacerbated by the longstanding issue of illegal migrants on the island. Amidst a backdrop of governmental turmoil and national debates on migration, the residents of Mayotte continue to await essential provisions such as food, water, and shelter. As rain poured down upon our landing, filling the exposed structures with water, it symbolized the challenges faced by Mayotte’s residents in the aftermath of the cyclone.
The state of emergency enacted for Mayotte aims to facilitate swift and effective crisis management, enabling the removal of administrative hurdles. With a one-month activation period, this measure can be extended in two-month intervals if necessary. François-Noël Buffet, the minister overseeing overseas territories, stressed the urgency of deploying extraordinary resources to restore essential services promptly and implement a sustainable reconstruction plan for Mayotte.
Emergency services are tirelessly providing aid, food, and water, alongside road clearance efforts and search operations for the missing individuals. Concerns loom over potential disease outbreaks due to water shortages and rationed supplies in stores. Priority is placed on restoring damaged water facilities, with half of the territory still without power. A nightly curfew has been imposed to safeguard against looting, reflecting the ongoing challenges faced by Mayotte in the wake of Cyclone Chido – the most severe storm to hit the archipelago in nine decades.
At least 45 individuals have been reported to have been affected in Mozambique, while the number stands at 13 in Malawi.
