Hundreds are feared dead in Mayotte, where France is rushing help

The impact of tropical storms on southern African communities: a video by UNICEF in Cabo Delgado, South Africa

Climate Change is said to be making the storms get worse. They can leave poor countries in southern Africa, which contribute a tiny amount to global warming, having to deal with large humanitarian crises, underlining their call for more help from rich nations to deal with the impact of climate change.

The tropical storms bring the risk of flooding and landslides, but also stagnant pools of water that can spark disease, like the waterborne disease cholera, as well as the mosquito Borne Malaria.

December through to March is cyclone season in the southeastern Indian Ocean and southern Africa has been pummeled by a series of strong ones in recent years. More than 1,300 people were killed in Idai, which hit the African country of Zimbabwe. Cyclone Freddy left more than 1,000 dead across several countries last year.

The communities are currently facing the prospect of being cut off from schools and health facilities for weeks due to the effects of the storm, according to a video posted by the group from Cabo Delgado’s regional capital.

“Many homes, schools and health facilities have been partially or completely destroyed and we are working closely with government to ensure continuity of essential basic services,” UNICEF said. Additional support is needed as we are doing everything we can.

The official death toll from Chido stood at 14 as of Monday morning, but Mayotte authorities feared hundreds and perhaps thousands of people had died. Rescue teams and medical personnel have been sent to the island off the east coast of Africa from France and from the nearby French territory of Reunion, as well as tons of supplies.

Pope Francis offered prayers to the victims of the storm while in Corsica, while the French president said that he was keeping an eye on the situation.

Tropical Cyclone Chido has killed 11 people and damaged the French territory of Mayotte, Island of Comoros, Madagascar (AP)

Rescuers and firefighters from both France and Reunion were due to be sent to Mayotte on Sunday. Supplies were being rushed in on military aircraft and ships.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — At least 11 people have died after Cyclone Chido caused devastating damage in the French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, France’s Interior Ministry said Sunday.

Aid agencies are warning of more deaths and damage from the tropical storm that hit the east coast of Africa.

The Mayotte Prefect told a local TV station the death toll could be in the thousands.

The tropical cyclone hit the southeastern Indian Ocean, affecting the islands of Comoros and Madagascar. Mayotte was in the path of the storm and was badly damaged on Saturday. The worst storm to hit Mayotte in 90 years is said to have been this one.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said Saturday night after an emergency meeting in Paris that there were fears that the death toll in Mayotte “will be high” and the island had been largely devastated.

The main hospital and airport on Mayotte have been damaged or destroyed according to the Prime Minister. Many people living in precarious shacks have faced serious risks.

Chido: A Category 4 Cyclone with Extreme Winds and Wind Power. France’s Poorest Archipelago

The second strongest on the scale, Chido had winds in excess of 220 kph (136 mph) and was a category 4 cyclone.

Mayotte is France’s poorest department and is regarded as the poorest territory in the European Union, but it is a target for economic migration from even poorer countries like nearby Comoros and even Somalia because of a better standard of living and the French welfare system.

The Mayotte prefect Bieuville said it would be difficult to count the dead due to the Muslim tradition of burying people within 24 hours of their deaths and the fact that many illegal immigrants live on the island.

He said that the Mayotte’s poor slums of metal shacks and other informal structures had suffered a lot of damage during the worst storm to hit Mayotte since the 1930s.

The French government said more than 800 more personnel would be arriving in the coming days to assist the rescuers who are combing through the ruins of Chido after it ravaged the archipelago on Saturday.