Tropical Cyclone Enawo is the worst cyclone to hit Madagascar in 13 years. Heavy rains have flooded Maroantsetra and the northeast. We have not yet received information regarding communities in the isolated areas where we work, but we know there will be a need to rebuild homes, secure clean water and food supplies and hence we are already activating our networks to help. Our goal is to help the communities to cleanup, rebuild family shelters, improve sanitation and restore potable water.
Topical cyclone Enawo is the strongest hurricane to hit Madagascar in 13 years. We have postponed our training workshop in order to help villagers recover. Currently Maronasetra is flooded; there is no electricity; sanitation is poor and potable water limited. We have not yet been able to contact remote farmers in the villages around Makira but reports are more than 400,000 have been displaced. We aim to assist small communities in restoring shelters, improve sanitation and purchase food.
We have contacted Medair, UNICEF, MAF, and Care to contribute to delivery of adequate food, shelter and drinking water. All donations to this project will go directly towards relief efforts in Madagascar.
While Madagascar is no stranger to tropical storms, when a major cyclone (hurricane) makes a direct hit, the devastation is comprehensive and long-lasting. Homes constructed of natural materials (palms, bamboo and wood) are blown away. Livelihoods dependent on subsistence farming are devastated as rice crops are flooded and cash crops are washed away. Water sources are contaminated. Assistance during this time will help the hardest hit areas get back on their feet as gracefully as possible.