Madagascar: RAJOELINA IN THE NORTH – Call for national solidarity

After laying wreaths in tribute to the martyrs of March 29, 1947, the President immediately headed to Ambilobe yesterday. He brought his support and that of the State to the victims following the passage of Cyclone Gamane.

Isolated. This is the situation in which several localities in the Ambilobe district find themselves following the passage of Cyclone Gamane. A situation that Andry Rajoelina, President of the Republic, observed firsthand during his visit there yesterday. Faced with humanitarian consequences, he issued a call for national solidarity to help the victims.

Submerged localities and about 1,800 hectares of rice fields under water. Isolated villages. Families trapped by water and taking refuge in flooded houses, when they are not destroyed. Victims without food, electricity, and no telephone or internet connection for three days. Farmers who have lost their entire harvest. Livestock farmers who have seen their livestock carried away by the waters. Children, women, and the elderly wading in water, shivering with cold and hunger. Roads cut off. Bridges washed away by the flood.

As soon as he flew over the Ambilobe district, Andry Rajoelina and his entourage got a glimpse of the tragedy that had befallen the residents. The situation is dire. Gamane has had a devastating effect both on the humanitarian level and on infrastructure. The toll of eighteen deaths, in all thirteen affected districts, gives an idea. The head of state was able to assess the extent of the damage when he landed in Ambilobe. This constituency has the highest number of victims with forty-three thousand registered.

“The State is working to rectify the situation. That’s precisely why I’m here. To assure you that the State is always by your side,” said the occupant of Iavoloha, facing the residents who are housed in the domain of the Ambilobe district office. On board a boat to meet families trapped by water, Andry Rajoelina nevertheless made a call for national solidarity to help the victims.

Most have lost everything due to the rising waters.

“We must stand together. Let’s lend a hand to each other. I encourage everyone who has the means to help our compatriot victims. It’s in difficult times that we recognize true friends,” added the President of the Republic. Faced with the tragedy in the North and Northeast, Andry Rajoelina cut short the initial program of the commemoration of the insurrection of March 29, 1947. After laying wreaths at the Mausoleum, at Avaratr’Ambohitsaina, he immediately flew to Ambilobe.

Reconstruction

In addition to visiting the sites hosting the victims, Andry Rajoelina insisted on seeing for himself the conditions in which families trapped by the waters have been surviving for almost a week. “We must help isolated families. We must reach out to them,” said the head of state. He then set off for a locality called Ambahivahy.

After a brief off-road journey in about a meter of water, he had to embark on one of the civil protection boats. It was then necessary to walk on a path that had turned into a sort of muddy water marsh up to 50 centimeters deep. “I am here to show you my support and to assure you that I am with you wholeheartedly,” said Andry Rajoelina, addressing the few families who found themselves surrounded by water in Ambahivahy.

To address the humanitarian emergency, the President stated that food distribution will be strengthened. The army helicopter is mobilized for logistics in isolated sites. A medical device, with free distribution of medicines, will also be deployed quickly. As soon as the weather conditions improved, aid measures were deployed. Christian Ntsay, Prime Minister, has been on the ground since Thursday to oversee the deployment of state actions. He welcomed the head of state, yesterday, in Ambilobe.

The National Bureau for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC) is also working hard to mitigate the effects, especially humanitarian, of the cyclonic damage in the thirteen affected districts. As a backup, there are ministerial departments. For Ambilobe in particular, Andry Rajoelina announced that rice will be sold there to circumvent inflation on foodstuffs.

Regarding infrastructure, the restoration of traffic on the roads is a priority. The installation of a Bailey bridge, as a temporary measure to overcome bridge collapses, is at the top of the list, according to presidential directives. This is the case of the Mahavavy bridge, of which a 45-meter section was carried away by a water surge. The President also indicated that “the state will do everything possible to support the victims and reconstruction.”

Garry Fabrice Ranaivoson