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FROM THE FIELD

Madagascar, Blown Away
07 Mar 2008 09:27:00 GMT
 Source: Medair - Switzerland
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Background

•  Madagascar cyclones

•  Health and diseases

•  AIDS pandemic

•  Chikungunya

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Medair initiates an emergency response after the category four cyclone Ivan hits the east coast of Madagascar, leaving devastation in its wake.

The massive storm struck on 17 February 2008, leaving Mrs. Edwige and her five children homeless. At the moment, her father's home is acting as a temporary refuge for them, but it is so small that everyone is forced to sit up in order to sleep.

"On that evening, the winds became very violent and no one was able to leave their homes," recalls Mrs. Edwige. "We were really scared, and during the night the back wall of the house was blown away. We only had time to get out before the house was completely brought down. Thanks to God that nobody got hurt!"

Mrs. Edwige was one of more than 147,000 people who lost their homes that night, and who now face an uncertain future, along with the immediate risk of contracting water-related diseases.

"I am worried because we don't have a house anymore," she says. "We lost part of our belongings and our crops, and the children in the village are starting to fall ill due to the limited access to drinking water."

Medair launches an emergency response

Ivan was the second of two cyclones to hit Madagascar since late January. In the southern part of the Analanjirofo region where Medair works, 60 percent of houses were damaged or destroyed, and most of the harvest was lost. 90 percent of the affected population now finds itself deprived of drinking water, a critical situation for thousands who are becoming vulnerable to water-related diseases.

Medair quickly initiated an emergency response in coordination with funding partners UNICEF, ECHO, and SDC. With a focus on the immediate improvement of access to drinking water, our mission is to disinfect wells and distribute WASH kits to 18,000 families. Each kit includes such items as basins, water purification solutions, soap, jerry cans, ceramic filters, and plastic sheeting, all designed to improve access to safe water and provide better living conditions.

By 4 March, Medair had distributed WASH kits to 6,000 families, and disinfected 900 wells. Clean-up support has also been provided in the town of Fénérive-East.

Rehabilitation in Madagascar

Medair has been in Madagascar for the past six years, working to decrease the population's vulnerability to recurring cyclones. With a focus on water & sanitation, we promote awareness about the risks associated with cyclones, and train local authorities in disaster mitigation, while partnering with local actors to improve access to drinking water. Our objective is to improve living conditions for beneficiaries over the long term, even if emergency relief is still occasionally needed.

Medair's intervention will last until 30 May, with further updates provided as they become available.

In the six years Medair has been in Madagascar, it has specialised in improving water and sanitation in rural areas. Its expertise is particularly beneficial when dealing with the ongoing threats of cyclone emergencies: assisting with mitigation (how to prepare for and protect against cyclone damage), emergency response (how to re-establish access to clean water), and recovery (how to improve the situation in the rebuilding phase after a cyclone has hit).

These projects receive currently financial support from the EuropeAid Cooperation Office of the European Commission (Water Facility), the Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission (ECHO), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the French Embassy in Madagascar and UNICEF.

Medair brings life-saving relief and rehabilitation in disasters, conflict areas, and other crises by working alongside the most vulnerable. Its internationally recruited staff are motivated by their Christian faith to care for people in need, providing practical and compassionate support, regardless of race, religion, or politics. Founded in 1989, Medair has an unwavering commitment to bring hope to the world's most vulnerable.

Medair's life-saving activities are also dependent upon private donations. To contribute to this work, please visit www.medair.org.


[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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Cyclone Ivan - [Who works where]
Madagascar cyclones - [Who works where]

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Last updated:Fri Mar 7 12:49:50 2008