Cyclone Batsirai is the second-biggest cyclone to hit southern Africa this year and has caused at least 20 deaths and more than 55,000 others displaced in Madagascar. As a result, approximately 3000 dwellings and government buildings were destroyed with flooding in a further 5700 in Mananjary and nearby towns.
In response to the event, the government has prioritized efforts to repair and rehabilitate administrative buildings, health centers, and hospitals. Since Cyclone Batsirai has occurred within two weeks of Tropical Storm Ana, which made landfall in Madagascar in late January, this has left the country vulnerable to a further worsening humanitarian crisis. Main roads, bridges, and critical infrastructure have been destroyed, making it challenging for aid to reach some of the hardest-hit areas.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa pointed out at a summit that the extreme weather pattern was the result of global warming and climate change. “Madagascar is in a constant humanitarian crisis”, quoted by a UN representative in Madagascar.
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