Tuesday 23 January 2018

Cyclone Ava Update


The storm has hit, people are suffering – Madagascar seriously needs our help.

Madagascar is an amazing land – the home to a variety of unique animals and plants. There is a catch though – it often experiences severe storms and also excessive droughts – these sadly leave Madagascar’s people struggling to survive, so one thing is clear - they need a helping hand.

Madagascar is now trying to recover from Cyclone Ava which hit on the 5th and 6th of January. This cyclone affected mainly the eastern coast, killing over 50, leaving some missing and around 54,000 (1) were displaced. With wind speeds of 87 - 119 mph (2), Madagascar has been left in shock and the worst is unfortunately not over yet – many schools have been closed due to the risk of flooding and landslides. Madagascar’s infrastructure is the main priority at the moment – with many roads and bridges having been damaged, potentially leaving some remote communities isolated.

Now that Madagascar has got through the worst days of the cyclone itself, the recovery process is everyone’s priority. Cyclones are far from new -often hitting Madagascar between November to April. (1) Whilst flash floods are still a dangerous possibility, the priority is to help those affected try to regain at least some normality. In Madagascar though, where some people struggle to find food, shelter and safe drinking water even away from ‘the cyclone season’ – the people need all the help they can get.

MFM has a strong history of acting in times of emergency. We always provide support based on the needs identified by our partners on the ground. Although the work we support emphasises long-term goals, such as disaster resilience, in a crisis, immediate needs must be met.

If you would like to make a real difference in Madagascar’s time of need – please consider making a donation - https://moneyformadagascar.org/ - Whatever you are able to give will make a difference to people's lives. Thank You.