Cyclone Chido struck the island of Mayotte during the night of Friday, December 13, to Saturday, December 14, with gusts reaching 250 km/h, according to MétéoFrance. The purple alert, the highest level of cyclone warning, was activated at 7 a.m. Winds exceeded 100 km/h for 5 hours, 150 km/h for 3 hours, and 200 km/h for 45 minutes. Significant rainfall was recorded, along with massive waves up to 9.3 meters high.

This extreme weather event hit a French department already facing significant challenges. Chronic water shortages, combined with widespread poverty, have created a worrying health situation. Since 2022, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has been supporting the population of informal settlements and asylum seekers on the island by distributing water filters, hygiene products, and, when necessary, chlorine tablets to treat water.

Five days after the cyclone hit, the full extent of the disaster endured by the people of Mayotte remains unclear. Reports from our teams on the ground are alarming. The island's many precarious homes have been entirely blown away. The exact number of fatalities or injuries is still unknown. Entire neighborhoods remain cut off from the rest of the island and have yet to receive emergency assistance. While some of the population in informal settlements sought refuge in collective emergency shelters, the situation remains dire. Much of the food was lost during the storm, and hunger is becoming a serious concern. Water service was cut off at the onset of the cyclone. Public water fountains, which supply 30% of Mayotte inhabitants not connected to the water network, are no longer functioning. Now deprived of shelter, water, food, but also of electricity, medical care, and emergency aid, the population faces a looming public health crisis. Indeed, the rainy season in Mayotte is just starting. Stagnant water and mud cover everything. The carcasses of animals further contaminate already polluted surface waters, which many people are forced to use. The lack of drinking water and functional toilets will soon create conditions for the spread of diseases. Our teams are already witnessing cases of skin diseases, abscesses, and fevers among many children. Diarrheal diseases are expected to follow, and cholera remains a significant threat.

In these circumstances, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL, after ensuring the safety of its four staff members and dozens of volunteers carrying out its initiatives, immediately mobilized: purified water is being supplied to four emergency shelters, water filters and disinfection solutions are being distributed, and a rainwater collection and treatment system has been installed in the Kavani neighborhood of Mamoudzou. The team is now preparing to adapt and scale up its actions to assist the most vulnerable populations.