World Central Kitchen is on its way to Madagascar to provide aid following the destruction caused by a cyclone on the island. With access to food and water now cut, the organisation is working with local partners to provide basic requirements.
Madagascar to receive cyclone aid after Gezani hits
World Central Kitchen is preparing to deliver aid to Madagascar following the destruction of parts of the island by Cyclone Gezani. World Central Kitchen, in a post on X, announced that it is enroute Madagascar, where the cyclone left about 250,000 people without food and water.
The cyclone’s damage displaced many people, with some also missing or injured. The organisation began working with local partners to ensure families and first responders have access to meals.
Cyclone Gezani hit Madagascar on Tuesday in the coastal city of Toamasina with winds that reached about 250 km/h. The winds uprooted trees and blew roofs off buildings.
However, some residents in the city dug through the debris of planks and metal to repair their homes. The storm destroyed more than 18,000 homes, and damaged about 50,000 others.
The cyclone also destroyed the road that linked the city to the capital. The destroyed road hindered the flow of humanitarian aid to displaced persons, as telecommunications are also unstable.
Nevertheless, this is the second time that World Central Kitchen is providing cyclone aid to Madagascar. In 2020, the non-profit supported communities in Madagascar that were affected by Cyclone Batsirai.
Jagan Chapagain, the Secretary-General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, mentioned in a post on X that the cyclone is also likely to affect Mozambique.
“Both Madagascar and Mozambique have endured harmful cyclone seasons over the past years. Early Warning and Anticipatory Action are essential to the work of our teams, helping communities prevent and reduce disaster impacts,” he posted.
Natural disasters are creating humanitarian crises
Since the beginning of the year, various natural disasters have wreaked havoc in different parts of the world. From winter storms to floods, these natural events have displaced and limited people’s access to essential supplies.
Portugal is also currently battling a flooding crisis that has caused about €4 billion in damages. Earlier this year, some parts of the U.S. also suffered severe winter storms that left hundreds of thousands of people in darkness.
However, charities and non-profits have been playing a huge role in managing the fallout of these disasters, which are limiting people’s access to essential supplies. They are also leading the way in tackling climate change to protect the environment.