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Madagascar: Cyclone Enawo Situation Report No. 2 (12 March 2017)

Countries
Madagascar
Sources
Govt. Madagascar
+ 2 more
Publication date

Highlights

  • The remnants of Intense Tropical Cyclone Enawo exited Madagascar on the morning of Friday 10 March 2017. The storm traversed nearly the length of the island over two days, affecting communities from north to south across Madagascar’s eastern and central regions.

  • Wind damage and widespread flooding in cyclone-affected parts of the north-east, and heavy rains and widespread flooding in eastern, central and south-eastern parts of the country has been recorded.

  • Favourable weather conditions since 10 March have permitted national authorities and humanitarian partners to initiate rapid assessments in north-eastern, eastern and south-eastern parts of the country.

  • Initial humanitarian impacts in the areas of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Shelter, Health, Food Security, Protection and Education, as well as Logistics have been identified.

  • Field coordination hubs are being jointly reinforced by national authorities and humanitarian partners in Maroantsetra and Antalaha.

Situation Overview

Intense Tropical Cyclone Enawo made landfall in north-eastern Madagascar’s Sava region on 7 March and then moved southward in an arc across central and south-eastern parts of the country as a tropical depression before exiting the country on the morning of 10 March.

As at 12 March, the National Office for the Management of Risks and Crises (BNGRC) reported 295,950 people to have been affected by the cyclone, including 84,660 who remain displaced. The number of deaths due to the storm has risen to 50 with 20 people missing and 195 injured. These figures are based on information received to date and may continue to change as more areas previously inaccessible are able to be reached.

Widespread but largely temporary flooding has been recorded in the storm’s wake, with waters receding quickly in many areas. The return of favourable weather conditions by 9 March has permitted some initial surveys of the affected areas to take place.

The President of Madagascar, accompanied by several members of his Government, visited several of the districts and regions most affected by the cyclone on Friday 10 March, underscoring the engagement of national authorities in leading and coordinating the response.

An overflight of cyclone-affected districts in Sava and Analanjirofo regions undertaken by the United Nations Resident Coordinator and members of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) on 9-10 March indicated little sign of flooding in Sambava district, while approximately 40 per cent of rice paddies and nearby habitations were flooded in Antalaha district and 80 per cent in Maraontsetra district, where approximately 40 per cent of the population has been displaced by the flood waters.

A preliminary rapid assessment was also undertaken in north-eastern (Sava and Analanjirofo regions), eastern (Alaotra Mangoro, Analamanga and Atsinanana regions) and south-central areas (Atsimo Atsinanana region) affected by the storm between 9 and 10 March. The assessment was led by the Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes (BNGRC) of Madagascar – the national disaster management authority – and representatives of CARE, FAO, OCHA, Madagascar Red Cross, MEDAIR, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP and WHO.

The initial technical evaluation of the assessment conducted by the BNGRC and participating agencies suggests that humanitarian activities should be prioritized in Maroantsetra, where approximately 40 per cent of the population has been displaced by flooding; in Antalaha, where the cyclone made landfall and where significant damage due to high winds as well as the rain-fed rapid rise in water levels; and in the capital, Antananarivo, where 27,104 people have been displaced by flooding and flood waters have in the past proven to persist longer than in other areas.

Among the critical damages observed in these areas are loss of subsistence crops and household food supplies due to flooding, with food prices in local markets increasing. Moreover, food availability could be a challenge in some remote areas cut off by damaged roads. At present, households are estimated to have two to three weeks of food stocks remaining.

Initial observations in Antalaha and Maroantsetra districts indicate widespread agricultural damage, including to cash crops. A more in-depth assessment of agricultural losses will be required.
High winds and flood waters have inundated and contaminated wells and damaged water systems, including in Antalaha where water and electricity services have been cut, jeopardizing access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene for large numbers of people. Large quantities of WASH kits and water makers need to be distributed.

The floods have also affected basic health facilities and schools, leading to concerns and a need for increased epidemic disease surveillance and distribution of health kits, as well as temporary learning facilities for school-aged children.

Response activities have been initiated by the Government and humanitarian partners, using in-country supplies.

Relief items were pre-positioned in 15 districts ahead of Cyclone Enawo’s arrival to respond to food security, education, health, nutrition, shelter, water and sanitation, and protection needs. Additional supplies started to be deployed to Sava and Analanjirofo regions on 10 March 2017.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.