French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Mayotte as the French Indian Ocean territory grapples with the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, which has claimed at least 31 lives and left thousands missing.
Landing on Thursday morning, Macron announced the delivery of four tonnes of food and health supplies to support the island’s recovery efforts. Declaring a state of exceptional natural disaster, French authorities aim to streamline responses to the crisis, which has paralyzed the region since the cyclone struck on Saturday.
“Faced with this exceptional situation, exceptional resources must be deployed to quickly restore vital services and implement a sustainable reconstruction plan for Mayotte,” stated François-Noël Buffet, France’s Minister for Overseas Territories. The emergency declaration, designed specifically for France’s overseas territories, waives administrative delays to expedite aid and reconstruction. Initially active for one month, it can be extended in two-month increments if needed.
The cyclone has left widespread devastation in its wake. Half the island is still without power, water supplies have been critically damaged, and health officials fear outbreaks of infectious diseases due to drinking water shortages. Shops have begun rationing supplies, leaving many residents without access to food or essentials.
Emergency services are racing to clear roads, distribute aid, and search for the missing. Meanwhile, a newly imposed overnight curfew aims to curb looting in the aftermath of the disaster.
Salama Ramia, a French senator for Mayotte, emphasized the dire need for food aid, stating, “One or two shops have opened, but not everybody has money to buy food, and even the shops are beginning to be empty. The food for me is really urgent.”
Macron’s visit has drawn attention to Mayotte’s chronic underdevelopment, which critics attribute to years of neglect by his administration. Mayotte is one of France’s poorest territories, with many of its residents living in precarious conditions.
As recovery efforts continue, Macron’s administration faces mounting pressure to address the island’s long-term infrastructure and economic challenges while providing immediate relief.
