Help and hope after cyclone Gamane

In March 2024, cyclone Gamane hit the north-east coast of Madagascar, near the SAVA region, more specifically in the district of Sambava. Humanitarian organisations quickly mobilised to bring relief to the affected populations. However, other regions such as Analanjirofo and Ambatosoa were also affected by the cyclone.

Medair therefore decided to deploy its emergency response teams to the Maroantsetra district to assist the communities left behind by Gamane.

According to the BNGRC report, 7 of the 8 communes in Maroantsetra district were flooded, covering 34 fokotany. Most of the water points were affected. The report from the Ministry of the Interior indicates that 5,998 people in 2,467 households were affected, suffering significant human and material damage, particularly to infrastructure, agriculture and livestock. As a result, humanitarian needs increased dramatically, and humanitarian organisations were facing enormous meteorological and logistical challenges in accessing affected populations to deliver aid. Medair stepped in to support the most vulnerable in these hard-to-reach areas.

Our emergency response teams distributed a variety of emergency kits, including WASH kits, basic cooking kits, and multi-sector kits containing blankets, buckets, water containers, plastic sheeting, rice, and beans. These resources encourage disaster-stricken families to regain their dignity and hope. Being able to carry out daily activities such as cooking, cleaning and personal hygiene with appropriate equipment helps to restore a sense of normality to those affected by the cyclone.

Residents were keen to bear witness to the help Medair provided thanks to Start Network funds.

Marie Jeannette, 74 said:

"The cyclone wasn't very violent, but it did bring flooding; all my kitchen utensils and bed linen were washed away, and my rice plantation was also flooded. But thanks to Medair, I was able to receive WASH kits and basic cooking kits so that I could at least cook and regain some semblance of my former life with dignity."

Bao Zorline, a 72-year-old widow living in the rural commune of Ankofabe said:

"Although the region is rich in water, the quality is not always guaranteed. The well that we use was flooded by the cyclone, but Medair volunteers came to clean the inside of the well, allowing us to have access to drinking water again and to maintain our hygiene. Since then, I only drink this disinfected water because I trust Medair. Their work is a guarantee of quality.

I thank Medair for everything it has done for our village, because now I can ensure my hygiene and drink clean water. My wish is that Medair comes back to Maroantsetra to continue to help vulnerable people as it has done in the past, because there is still a lot to improve in our region, especially in terms of sanitation."

To date, our team in Maroantsetra has distributed:  

• Multi-sector kits to more than 724 people
• WASH kits to more than 8035 people
• Non-conditional cash to more than 7,772 people
• Cooking kits to more than 4,439 people
• Menstrual hygiene kits for 2,000 girls

In addition, other activities were carried out by our team in the field, including:

• Disinfection of 63 water points in the rural communes of the Maroantsetra district;

• WASH awareness-raising for 9,048 people in our areas of intervention;

• Raising awareness about child protection and children's rights for more than 4,598 people.

Medair was able to intervene in Maroantsetra thanks to Start Network, a network of humanitarian aid agencies working around the world, with more than 90 partners on five continents, that are ready to respond within 72 hours of a crisis. Thanks to this network, Medair was able to assist 24,491 people in Maroantsetra.

Together with Start Network, we are working to revolutionise the global humanitarian system because Start Fund operates with a flexible funding system, allowing donors to release funds quickly and without undue restrictions. Humanitarian organisations then have the freedom to use resources in the most effective way possible to meet the specific needs of each situation.

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