Responding to Cyclone Gezani in Madagascar

Over 250,000 people have been affected, including 9,000 who were displaced from their homes and 50 people who lost their lives. Thanks to funding from Jersey Overseas Aid and generous donations from our supporters, CBM has been providing emergency relief to ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind.

When disasters strike, people with disabilities are often the hardest hit and the hardest to reach. Because of damage to roads and infrastructure, the challenge of getting around and maintaining their livelihoods increases. That’s why we will continue working through local partners to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable communities, including people with disabilities.

CBM had already been working in the Atsinanana region, located on Madagascar’s disaster-prone eastern coast, when the cyclone struck. The area was also entering ‘lean season’, where food is scarce before the harvest, with the World Food Programme estimating that 1.7 million people are currently facing severe food insecurity.[1]

A day after Cyclone Gezani struck, A CBM programme officer met 6-year-old Jecika, who has a physical disability and her mother. For the family, the impact was devastating. Jecika’s mother told us, “Cyclone Gezani hit last night. There is nothing left to collect, no shelter, no food to eat. We truly have nothing at all.”

Thanks to the support of Jersey Overseas Aid, we have reached over 3,000 households with vital cash assistance and trained 10 psychosocial assistants to support people’s mental health in the aftermath. By the end of July, we aim to reach 1,000 people with psychological first aid and provide individual follow-up for those who need it.

Kirsty Smith, CEO for CBM UK, said: “We’re grateful for this support from Jersey Overseas Aid, and to our supporters who remain as committed as ever to ensuring people with disabilities are not left behind during emergencies. Our work in Madagascar is demonstrating how households and communities can be supported in their recovery and in building back better. As the climate crisis increases the frequency and severity of disasters, the work of CBM and its partners has never been more important.”

Find out more about our work during disasters and emergencies.

Find out more about our work in Madagascar.

[1] https://www.wfp.org/countries/madagascar