**Cyclone Chido: the humanitarian emergency in Mayotte**
Only two days have passed since the devastating passage of Cyclone Chido on the island of Mayotte, leaving behind a landscape of desolation and a population in distress. A dramatic situation that requires rapid and effective mobilization to help the thousands of Mahorais affected by this natural disaster.
The island of Mayotte, located in the Indian Ocean, is facing a major challenge: delivering the necessary aid to the areas most affected by the cyclone. Deprived of water and electricity, many inhabitants find themselves in a precarious situation, left to fend for themselves in the face of the ravages of the storm.
The human toll, although provisional, is already heavy, with at least 14 deaths recorded. However, the authorities fear that this figure will rise considerably, raising the possibility of “hundreds, even thousands” of additional deaths. An alarming outlook that highlights the urgency of action to save lives and provide support to a traumatized population.
Faced with this disaster, it is time for solidarity and international mobilization to come to the aid of Mayotte. Local authorities, supported by humanitarian organizations and allied countries, have entered into a race against time to deliver essential aid: food, drinking water, medicines, emergency shelters, etc. These are all vital needs that must be provided quickly to the disaster-stricken populations.
But material aid is not the only issue in this emergency situation. It is also a question of providing psychological support to survivors, rebuilding destroyed infrastructure, preventing health risks and supporting the population in a process of resilience and reconstruction.
Cyclone Chido highlighted the vulnerability of the island of Mayotte to extreme weather events and highlighted the need to strengthen measures to prevent and manage natural risks. Beyond the humanitarian emergency, it is also a question of learning lessons from this disaster to better anticipate and protect populations against future devastating weather events.
In short, Cyclone Chido has plunged Mayotte into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, highlighting the island’s fragility and the need for global solidarity to deal with such events. It is time for action, compassion and solidarity towards a wounded but resilient people, ready to recover and rebuild despite the hardships.