Macron visits Mayotte after cyclone Chido kills 31, anger grows over aid response VIDEO

French President Emmanuel Macron visited the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte on December 19, following the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido, which struck the region over the weekend. 

At least 31 people have been confirmed dead, with local officials fearing the toll could rise to the hundreds or even thousands, Caliber.Az report via foreign media.

Upon his arrival, Macron faced strong criticism from residents who voiced frustration over what they perceived as insufficient support from Paris. One local man angrily asked, “The water isn’t there, no services are there. After six days, is that normal?”

A woman, visibly distressed, urged Macron for help, saying, “Everything is demolished. We need you – there is nothing in Mayotte. We have young children, we are without water, without electricity.”

The response to the aid sent to the island has been similarly negative. Macron brought four tons of aid, including food and medical supplies, but many locals were unimpressed. “Four tons of aid, that’s 100 grams of food or water per person. What is that? That’s a tin of sardines?” one woman told public broadcaster France Info.

Another resident posted a photo of the aid, including two bottles of water and a can of tomatoes, with the caption, “Here is the so-called food aid distributed to the people of Mayotte. Anger begins to mount.”

Originally planning to stay for just a day, Macron extended his visit to overnight. He also announced the creation of a compensation fund for uninsured victims and promised that Mayotte would be rebuilt with new criteria. Many areas of the island remain inaccessible due to widespread damage caused by the cyclone.

Cyclone Chido, the worst storm to strike the region in at least 90 years, caused catastrophic damage, flattening neighbourhoods, knocking out power, and destroying infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and the airport's control tower.

Mayotte, home to a population of just over 300,000, has been grappling with issues of poverty, unemployment, and a growing migration crisis, with an estimated 100,000 undocumented migrants, mostly from the Comoros and Madagascar, living on the island. Local authorities have warned of the potential for disease outbreaks due to the lack of clean drinking water and poor sanitation.

In response, France’s health minister, Geneviève Darrieussecq, announced the pre-positioning of 10,000 cholera vaccine doses. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) also reported that 200 of its volunteers had lost contact with their headquarters and were racing to deliver aid.

French authorities have already distributed 120 metric tons of food, and on December 19, Macron’s plane delivered more aid, including over four tons of food and medical supplies.

Cyclone Chido, a Category 4 storm, reached Mayotte with winds exceeding 220 km/h (136 mph). Macron declared a national day of mourning for the victims as of December 23, stating, “We all share the pain” of the people of Mayotte.

In the capital, Mamoudzou, resident Bruno Garcia described the damage as “catastrophic” and “apocalyptic,” adding, “It’s as if an atomic bomb fell on Mayotte.”

Macron’s visit comes at a time of political turmoil in France, but the president’s statements and promises of aid have done little to quell the anger of many Mayotte residents.

By Aghakazim Guliyev