France Aids Mayotte After Worst Cyclone in Nearly a Century

France Aids Mayotte After Worst Cyclone in Nearly a Century \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Cyclone Chido, a Category 4 storm, ravaged Mayotte over the weekend, leaving massive destruction and an uncertain death toll. French authorities report 21 confirmed fatalities, with fears that the true number could reach into the thousands. Survivors face a dire situation, with widespread power outages, limited water, and disrupted communication. France has deployed rescue teams, supplies, and security personnel to assist the devastated territory.

Mayotte Cyclone Disaster: Quick Looks

• Cyclone Chido’s Impact: The worst storm since the 1930s destroyed homes, infrastructure, and Mayotte’s main airport.
• Rising Death Toll: French officials fear hundreds or thousands may have perished, with many deaths potentially unrecorded.
• Critical Shortages: Survivors lack electricity, clean water, and food, while hospitals report severe damage.
• French Aid Deployed: France is sending personnel, supplies, and a field hospital to address the growing crisis.
• European Solidarity: The European Parliament observed a moment of silence, pledging support for Mayotte.

Deep Look

Cyclone Chido, a powerful Category 4 storm, has plunged Mayotte, the smallest and poorest French territory, into chaos. Striking with winds exceeding 220 kph (136 mph) on Saturday, Chido destroyed entire neighborhoods, displaced thousands, and created a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions in the region.

Devastation Across Mayotte

Mayotte’s capital, Mamoudzou, bore the brunt of the cyclone’s wrath. Buildings across the island—including schools, hospitals, and offices—were reduced to rubble. Homes were stripped of roofs, and fallen palm trees littered the streets.

“Mayotte is totally devastated,” said French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who noted that 70% of the island’s population had been severely affected.

Electricity remains down across most of the territory, and telecommunications are crippled. The French Red Cross described the destruction as “unimaginable,” with rescuers still searching for bodies. Mayotte’s main airport is closed after its control tower was damaged, complicating efforts to deliver aid.

The health system is in disarray, with Mayotte’s primary hospital suffering water damage that rendered key departments, including intensive care and maternity wards, inoperable. France plans to send a field hospital, expected to arrive later this week, to address urgent medical needs.

Rising Death Toll

As of Monday evening, French officials confirmed 21 deaths and 45 critical injuries, but the true scale of the tragedy remains unclear. Health Minister Geneviève Darrieussecq warned that these figures are likely major undercounts given the extensive destruction.

French Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville speculated that the death toll could reach several hundred—or even thousands—partly due to the island’s Muslim tradition of burying the deceased within 24 hours, which may leave many fatalities unrecorded.

Survivors Struggle Amid Widespread Shortages

Survivors described harrowing conditions, with hunger and thirst rising as aid trickles in. “There’s no water, no electricity. Hunger is starting to rise. It’s urgent that aid arrives,” said Salama Ramia, a Mayotte senator.

The cyclone particularly impacted residents of informal settlements, known as bangas, where makeshift homes were destroyed. Fear of looting kept many residents from seeking shelter during the storm. Migrants, who make up an estimated 100,000 of Mayotte’s 320,000 residents, avoided emergency shelters due to fears of deportation, compounding the tragedy.

French and European Response

France has mobilized to address the crisis, deploying military aircraft and ships to deliver aid. Daily airlifts are delivering 20 tons of water and food to alleviate immediate shortages. The Interior Ministry announced that 1,500 additional personnel, including engineers and gendarmes, are being sent to restore infrastructure and maintain order.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed deep sorrow over the disaster and pledged to visit Mayotte in the coming days. “This tragedy has shaken each of us,” he said, adding that a national mourning period will be declared.

The European Parliament observed a minute of silence for the victims. Roberta Metsola, the Parliament’s president, affirmed solidarity with Mayotte, stating, “Mayotte is Europe, and Europe will not abandon you.”

Underlying Challenges in Mayotte

Mayotte’s vulnerability to disasters like Cyclone Chido is exacerbated by chronic underinvestment and poverty. Three-quarters of the population lives in poverty, with median incomes far below those in mainland France. The territory has also faced political instability and rising support for far-right movements, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with its governance.

Last year, water shortages triggered by drought and mismanagement led to mass protests, prompting intervention by the French army. These systemic issues have left Mayotte ill-equipped to handle a disaster of Chido’s magnitude.

Broader Cyclone Impacts

After devastating Mayotte, Cyclone Chido moved westward, hitting Mozambique on Sunday, where it killed three people and injured 34. In Malawi, the storm claimed two lives.

The Indian Ocean region has experienced increasingly severe cyclone seasons in recent years. Cyclone Idai in 2019 and Cyclone Freddy in 2022 caused widespread destruction, with death tolls surpassing 1,000 in southern Africa.

A Long Road to Recovery

As relief efforts intensify, Mayotte faces a long and uncertain recovery. The cyclone’s devastation has highlighted the island’s precarious infrastructure and underscored the urgent need for sustained investment and disaster preparedness.

For the people of Mayotte, immediate survival is the priority. “It’s chaos,” said resident Fahar Abdoulhamidi. “Nobody believed it would be this big.”

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