Communities from Mayotte and the Comoros living in France are rallying to send aid to the Indian Ocean archipelago devastated by Cyclone Chido. Donations are pouring in from cities such as Marseille, home to France’s largest Comorian community, and nearby Toulon.
One month ago, Cyclone Chido wreaked havoc on the French overseas territory of Mayotte, with 39 people confirmed dead and more than 5,000 injured in the most devastating cyclone to hit the island in 90 years.
Thousands of families were left homeless after high winds flattened the shanty towns where between 100,000 and 200,000 of the population of 300,000 lived – among them many undocumented migrants from neighbouring Comoros.
On Monday, volunteers in Marseille and Toulon were busy preparing donations to ship to Mayotte.
“We’re heading toward Toulon. We’re going to pick up food supplies,” said Naer Abdallah from the Ambre organisation.
“We’re currently loading water and milk. After that, we’ll load other food items like pasta, rice, canned goods and couscous.”
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With one truck already packed with more than 60 large boxes, Abdou Ouirdani, president of the Mahoran union of Toulon, said they were looking for a second truck to transport the remaining supplies.
"We're going to try to find a second truck to fit everything in. We have a lot of food, a lot of clothing, but there's everything, really. Toys, hygiene products, toothpaste… you name it," Ouirdani said.
Donations have been steadily arriving in Toulon for weeks. Kassim, a volunteer, said the aid will continue for as long as necessary.
“The crisis won’t end today. If we need to organise donations once a month, we will. Mayotte’s reconstruction won’t happen overnight.”
At a warehouse in Marseille, volunteers are taking stock of the collected items.
“We have almost seven to eight tonnes of food, along with clothing and medical supplies,” Abdallah said.
The latest shipment of donations from Marseille and Toulon is set to leave for Mayotte on 24 January.
