Mayotte in crisis: reinforcements expected and emergency meeting scheduled

In Mayotte, time is running out. Additional relief efforts are expected to arrive on Monday, December 16, to assist thousands of people left destitute by the passage of cyclone Chido, which devastated the archipelago last Saturday. This catastrophic event has plunged this Indian Ocean territory, already marked by significant poverty, into an urgent state of crisis.

Arriving in the morning, the outgoing ministers of the interior, Bruno Retailleau, and overseas territories, François-Noël Buffet, visited the island to assess the extent of the damage and coordinate initial support measures. Local authorities fear a tragic human toll, already estimating the potential for “several hundred” fatalities.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Macron is set to lead a meeting focused on managing this major crisis at 6 p.m. at the interministerial crisis center at the interior ministry. This session aims to enhance relief coordination and address the urgent needs of the population.

Cyclone Chido: Mayotte devastated as humanitarian aid is en route

Following the devastating passage of cyclone Chido on Saturday, December 14, Mayotte is struggling to recover. A humanitarian airlift organized from La Réunion is expected to deliver aid in the coming hours.

The situation on the ground is dire, with every moment critical. Two days after this unprecedented disaster, thousands of Mahorans remain in distress, lacking shelter, food, and clean water. The current death toll stands at 14 confirmed fatalities, but authorities fear the final count could rise significantly, potentially reaching “hundreds or even thousands,” according to the archipelago’s prefect.

With wind gusts exceeding 220 km/h, cyclone Chido has been the most powerful storm to hit Mayotte in nearly 90 years. Its ferocious winds left behind a trail of destruction, obliterating the fragile housing that shelters nearly one-third of the population.

As relief efforts ramp up, the challenges remain immense for an island struck to its core by the relentless forces of nature.