French President Emmanuel Macron visited Mayotte, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean, following the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido. The powerful storm, with winds over 220 km/h, caused significant damage, resulting in at least 31 confirmed deaths, with officials fearing the toll could be much higher. The cyclone’s destruction has left the island in a state of crisis, and Macron’s visit, days after the storm hit, was met with frustration from locals who felt that the French government had failed to provide adequate support.
Upon his arrival, Macron was greeted with anger from residents, many of whom were suffering from a lack of essential services like water and electricity. One local man questioned the delay in aid, while a woman, visibly distressed, expressed her despair, stating that everything had been destroyed and they urgently needed help. Despite bringing four tons of aid, including food and medical supplies, some residents criticized the limited assistance, with one woman mocking the aid’s insufficiency, pointing out the meager amounts of food distributed to the population.
Macron Faces Local Anger During Visit to Cyclone-Hit Mayotte, Promises Aid and Rebuilding Efforts
In response to the mounting frustration, Macron announced the creation of a compensation fund for those without insurance and promised to rebuild Mayotte with new criteria. Initially planning only a one-day visit, Macron extended his stay to show solidarity with the affected people. However, the full scale of the damage is still unclear, partly due to the presence of around 100,000 undocumented migrants living in informal housing, many of whom were also severely impacted by the storm.
Cyclone Chido, one of the most powerful storms to hit Mayotte in decades, caused widespread devastation, flattening neighborhoods, destroying infrastructure, and knocking out essential services like hospitals, schools, and airports. The damage has created a humanitarian crisis in the territory, which has a population of roughly 300,000 people. In response, the French government declared a state of “exceptional natural disaster” and implemented measures to address the situation, such as freezing the prices of essential goods to prevent shortages.
Amid the ongoing crisis, there are fears of a potential disease outbreak due to contaminated water and poor sanitation. France’s health minister has taken steps to combat cholera, with 10,000 doses of vaccines already pre-positioned. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has been struggling to contact volunteers in the region but is working hard to deliver critical aid. In a show of national solidarity, Macron announced a day of mourning to honor the victims of the disaster and reaffirmed France’s commitment to helping Mayotte recover.
