French PM visits Mayotte capital today to address worried citizens, states two-phase plans is in order. Credit: Outremers360, Twitter.
Amidst the aftermath of the destruction of Cyclone Chido in the French-owned island of Mayotte within southwest Africa from December 5th to 16th, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou visits local citizens this morning and ensures a strict recovery plan will be put in place as part of damage limitations.
The powerful hurricane, which devastated the people of Mayotte, as well as Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Malawi and other nearby lands, is said to have cost upwards of $800 million as it leaves in its wake a mist of fear and panic amongst many communities, including the people of Mayotte.
Countless lives impacted as PM searches for solutions
And with official figures confirming at least 39 deaths, over 5600 injured, and 200 confirmed citizens missing, with up to ‘thousands’ more seemingly disappearing as a causal effect of the disaster, there is a growing increase for a search for solutions to repair the community network, infrastructure and homes of countless people.
BFMTV, the French news outlet, reported that France’s leader addressed the citizens of Mamoudzou, the capital of Mayottee, in an emotional address to the stricken island, with fatalities estimated at a “few dozen or a few hundred”, according to the PM.
Rumours unfounded
He goes on to tell BFMTV that circulating rumours of thousands of deaths are “unfounded”, as he states: “Our duty is to ask the question and provide answers. This will be done through proposed laws that will isolate certain subjects”, in a slightly cryptic statement.
He addressed to the public that: “After a day of dialogue, we will announce the plan that will be called Mayotte Debout”, or ‘Mayotte standing’. Arriving earlier today to aim to stem panic and doubts over the situation and how the Mayotte people can move on with their lives safely, the leader has put in a two-phase plan to help those recover from the disaster.
Two-phase plan for Mayotte
Bayrou insists that the plan will entail immediate solutions, and a long term agenda in order to help people of mayotte rebuild their lives amidst the destruction their homes, communities, and livelihoods has seen since the start of December, stating: “This plan concerns absolutely all the points we have identified to provide rapid responses”.
The first phase, which has already been ongoing since the dissipation of the disaster, involves the instant support of food, water and shelter. Bayrou commented that: “Since December 19, 685,520 litres of water have been distributed along with 74.5 tons of food. In terms of shelter, 2000 tarpaulins have been distributed and 4000 more are being distributed now”.
As the people of Mayotte scramble for supplies and resources, with many finding temporary accommodation as a last-minute resource of safety in the form of tarpaulin and shacks, challenges continue to persist.
Electricity issues ensure throughout Mayotte after disaster
Only 48% of Mayottes households have had their electricity supply restored, much tension and stress piling on citizens to see if they will ever see their homeland as it was before. Bayrou reaffirmed that the government has a strict goal of rebuilding the archipelago within the next two years, and the Prime Minister says he has to be confident in his aims.
“This is an objective that we must set ourselves”, he added, as he concludes regarding the next step in the plan that “there will be a second phase, in a few months”. It is clear that the resurrection of the livelihood of those affected in Mayotte, and other regions of southwest Africa will not be a quick fix, with citizens urged to remain calm.
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