MAMOUDZOU, Mayotte — Following the most devastating cyclone to hit the territory in nearly a century, the Indian Ocean island of Mayotte is struggling to assess loss of life, restore crucial services, and provide support to residents in distress. The already stretched healthcare system grapples with a surge of patients suffering from storm-related injuries along with dehydration, malnutrition, and various diseases.
At the main hospital in the capital city, Mamoudzou, medical professionals are facing an overwhelming situation. Dr. Roger Serhal, who heads the obstetrics and gynecology department, reported that the hospital lost a significant portion of its capacity. “We lost 40% of patient rooms, about 50 to 60 beds,” he remarked. Amid Cyclone Chido’s ferocious winds exceeding 220 kph (136 mph), the medical team managed to deliver three babies, including one via cesarean section, despite the dire conditions.
The storm inflicted considerable structural damage to the hospital, forcing the medical staff to prioritize the most critical cases. As of Friday, the official death toll stood at 35, but French Health Minister Geneviève Darrieussecq cautioned that these figures may drastically underestimate the true extent of the losses given the scale of devastation.
Entire communities have been wiped out, and many individuals ignored precautionary warnings, believing the cyclone’s impact would not be as severe. Authorities noted that some migrants refrained from seeking refuge in shelters due to fears of deportation, raising concerns that the death toll could reach into the hundreds or potentially thousands.
Healthcare experts warn that the combination of inadequate access to clean water and electricity, along with overcrowded living conditions, may catalyze a public health crisis. Dr. Vincent Gilles, the emergency medical director, expressed deep concern: “Patients are coming because their illnesses are untreated, there’s no water, and no electricity. We’re worried about epidemics, like the cholera outbreak we stopped just months ago.”
Amid these challenges, hospital staff are laboring intensely, yet essential supplies are dwindling. “If we have rain,” Dr. Serhal noted, “it will be catastrophic.” One patient, Saindou Mohamadi, 54, shared his ordeal from his hospital bed. He suffered a fractured arm and a sprained ankle during the cyclone, which completely destroyed his home.
Mohamadi expressed anguish for his family, detailing their desperate situation: “My mother is sick, I’m sick, and my child is sick. They need to eat, but I am the one who takes care of the food, and now we have nothing.” He has six children to support and is among many residents rendered homeless and impoverished by the cyclone. “I’m not alone,” he lamented. “There are many of us who have lost everything — our houses, our food. I want the government to care about us, to give us food and a place to sleep.”
Mayotte, located between Madagascar and mainland Africa, has a dense population of over 320,000, along with an estimated 100,000 migrants from distant countries like Somalia. This French overseas territory has long experienced systemic neglect and insufficient investment, with around 75% of its population living in poverty. The cyclone’s devastation has exacerbated existing challenges, leaving many in despair regarding the government’s ability to offer timely and effective aid.
While efforts to deliver emergency assistance, such as aerial shipments of food and water, are in progress, the sheer scale of need is immense. Mayotte’s airport remains closed to civilian flights, complicating logistics for relief efforts. During his recent visit, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the severity of the situation and promised a rebuilding effort, although he faced criticism from locals dissatisfied with the slow response.
The French Interior Ministry estimates that around 70% of the population has been significantly affected, with a notable number left homeless and vulnerable as the community attempts to recover from this widespread catastrophe.
