French President Emmanuel Macron met with residents of the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte, days after a devastating cyclone hit the territory. At least 31 people have been confirmed dead, but officials fear the death toll could be much higher.
Macron was met with anger from some residents who felt the French government had not provided enough support following the disaster. The president brought four tons of aid to the territory, which local leaders described as inadequate. “Four tons of aid is 100 grams of food or water per person,” one woman said. “That’s a tin of sardines.”
Despite his initial plan to leave after one day, Macron announced he would stay overnight in Mayotte to oversee the relief efforts. The president also promised to establish a compensation fund for those who are uninsured and rebuild the territory with new criteria.
The cyclone, Cyclone Chido, caused widespread destruction, flattening neighborhoods, knocking out power grids, and damaging critical infrastructure such as hospitals and schools. An estimated 100,000 undocumented migrants live in Mayotte, making it difficult to assess the full extent of the damage.
France has activated a state of exceptional natural disaster to manage the crisis, and authorities have frozen prices on consumer goods amid shortages. The health minister announced that France is preparing for a potential cholera outbreak, having pre-positioned vaccines against it.
The president’s visit comes as France grapples with ongoing political turmoil. Macron visited Mayotte amidst a national day of mourning next Monday to honor those affected by the disaster.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/19/world/emmanuel-macron-france-mayotte-cyclone-intl-hnk/index.html