Cyclone Ivan came and went inside three terrible days but it’s becoming clear that the trail of destruction left behind across Madagascar will take many months to clear up.
The storm lashed the Indian Ocean island last month with 140mph winds which flattened homes, schools, health centres and also destroyed crops.
The death toll is nearing 100, with many others missing, and 200,000 people are homeless.
‘Deplorable’ was how one Madagascan government minister described the impact and the UN is asking for US $36 million towards relief aid.
Tearfund is responding to the cyclone’s devastating aftermath by supporting and working with the local church in Madagascar.
Our partner, the Association of Bible Baptist churches of Madagascar (FFBBM), runs a hospital and a community development programme.
The FFBBM is aiming to help severely affected families in 19 rural villages in the Mandritsara area in the north east of the country.
The initial priority will be to help families whose houses have been destroyed and who have lost food supplies.
Emergency food
Our partner is looking to supply two months of emergency food rations such as maize, beans, rice and groundnut oil.
In addition, 520 families are set to receive seeds so they can plant new crops.
The storm badly damaged water supply and sanitation systems in some villages, sparking fears that an outbreak of diarrhoea could put children particularly at risk.
So efforts will go into controlling diarrhoeal diseases by providing medical treatment, water purification and repairing water systems and latrines.
Nick Burn, Tearfund’s Desk Officer for Madagascar, said, `The destruction brought by these cyclones is desperately sad, but at the same time the development programme has brought significant changes in attitude, which means these communities are much more resilient.’
Please pray for the success of relief efforts to help the communities back on their feet.
Pray that outbreaks of disease will be minimised and that the ongoing witness of the gospel will continue to impact on the strong animistic beliefs and fatalistic attitudes.
Pray that Madagascar will escape further cyclones in the remaining weeks of the storm season.