220,000 People in Need of Aid After Cyclone Hits Madagascar

The International Organization for Migration stated today, Tuesday, that about 220,000 people urgently require humanitarian assistance due to the catastrophic impact of Cyclone Gomani in northeast Madagascar, which made landfall on March 27, causing widespread destruction.

Heavy rains also triggered significant flooding in multiple areas.

According to a report from Geneva, initial assessments indicate that over 535,000 people were affected in 33 towns inundated by floods, resulting in 18 fatalities and displacing 22,000 individuals.

Nearly 19,000 homes were submerged, with extensive damage reported to roads and critical infrastructure, including 22 health centers and 135 schools.

Additionally, more than 2,200 hectares of rice fields are at risk of being inundated, posing a threat to the livelihoods of residents across affected areas.

The organization warned that emergency supplies in the country are running low, with reserves being depleted to assist disaster-affected populations since the beginning of the year.

Access conditions to the cyclone-affected areas remain challenging, with relief being provided via air or sea due to damage to roads and bridges.

There is an urgent need for additional funding to continue relief efforts amidst limited available resources.

Madagascar is highly vulnerable to natural hazards, ranking among the top ten countries most exposed to climate change globally.

In recent years, it has faced a series of disasters including droughts, floods, and cyclones, resulting in fatalities, extensive damage to homes and critical infrastructure, and displacement of large populations.

The impacts of natural hazards are exacerbated by widespread environmental degradation, with a third of the island's land resources now affected by erosion, severely impacting people's ability to adapt and address the problem sustainably.

In its report, the International Organization for Migration called for urgent support to address the humanitarian crisis in Madagascar, noting that the United Nations estimates 2.3 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance there.