Aid flows from French cities to Mayotte a month after devastating cyclone
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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