The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is launching a preliminary emergency appeal for 773,000 Swiss francs (US$ 637,000, 477,000) to help the Malagasy Red Cross Society (MRCS) respond to Cyclone Indlala, which devastated parts of the island of Madagascar.
Cyclone Indlala hit Madagascar on March 15. It ravaged the north-eastern coastline and surrounding areas with strong winds of up to 165 km/h. Roofs were blown away in the regions of Sava, Analajirofo, Diana and Sofia. Around 40 per cent of buildings in the town of Antalaha have reportedly been destroyed. Water and electricity supplies have been severely disrupted. The authorities estimate that 293,000 people have been affected. Some 32,000 have been displaced and more than 150, 000 farming families have lost an estimated 90,000 hectares of crops. According to government figures, about 80 per cent of the country's vanilla production - which is Madagascar's top foreign exchange earner - has been lost.
"The situation has been made worse because Indlala is the fifth cyclone to hit Madagascar in the past three months and the region has already experienced heavy rains since December," says Amna Al-Ahmar, the International Federation's regional officer in Geneva.
The Malagasy Red Cross Society and French Red Cross - through the Indian Ocean Rapid Intervention Platform (PIROI) - immediately went into action as soon as the cyclone hit the island. French Red Cross technical staff, supported by local Red Cross volunteers, are already responding through activities that include water and sanitation, shelter and the distribution of 40 tonnes of basic relief supplies.
The appeal aims to meet additional humanitarian needs, including assisting MRCS in its relief operation for 32,000 displaced people in the Maroantsetra and Antahala areas that will provide affected communities with non food items such as tarpaulins, blankets as well as jerry cans, water purification tablets and other basic relief items. The operation will also focus on the provision of temporary shelter and preventive health activities. The International Federation is sending a regional disaster response team and a field assessment coordination team to the affected area The results of further assessments will enable extension of the plan of action to Diana and Sofia regions.
The International Federation is co-ordinating very closely with the Malagasy Red Cross, the French Red Cross, government and UN agencies in all initiatives taken to support the affected population.
A total of 185,000 Swiss francs (US$ 152,000; 150,000) has already been released from the International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to answer immediate needs.
For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:
In Nairobi :
Omar Valdimarsson, Regional Information Delegate, Tel: + 254 733632946
In Geneva:
Jean-Luc Martinage, Media Officer , Tel: + 41 22 730 42 96 / + 41 79 217 33 86
Duty phone Tel: + 41 79 416 38 81
The Federation, Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. www.ifrc.org
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
