(ANS - Bemaneviky) - On Thursday and Friday of last week the "Inalala" cyclone struck the eastern coast of Madagascar causing extensive flooding, damage to the vanilla crop, breaking communications and costing lives.
Fr Vladimiro Stuhli, Economer of the Salesian Vice Province of Madagascar and Fr Jean Emile Razafimahatratra from the Bemaneviky community, who in these days were in Ivato, left on Sunday morning by air for Ambanja from where they tried to reach the village of Bemaneviky. The Sambirano river, even though the water has gone down, is still very full and dangerous; the villages around Ambanja have been submerged. The main highway that links Ambanja with Diego Suarez/Antsiranana is closed on account of the many vehicles caught in the mud, which makes rescue operations more complicated.
The Salesians in Bemaneviky have taken in the people of the village and lodged them on the first floor of their own house since the water rose 180 and 200 centimetri. Gradually as the water recedes from the village it leaves behind a layer of mud and mire of about 30 cm which covers all the houses. So far six deaths have been reported: a whole family swept away by the water. A news item on International Radio France said that the situation in the north is very critical. It is feared that there could be epidemics on account of the stagnant and filthy water and the lack of drinking water. In the area of Antananarivo and its surroundings the sun has reappeared and the electricity is functioning again, with only short interruptions. The problem of the waterlogged ground remains and the crops destroyed or completely ruined.
The United Nations have launched an urgent appeal for about 10 milion dollars to pay for the first aid required by the 293,000 people affected by the floods and cyclones which have struck the north-central area of Madagascar since the end of December. The first contributions will be used for the distribution of food and medicine and the provision of seed and fertiliser.
Published 19/03/2007
