10 December 2019
Tropical cyclone Belna hit northwestern Madagascar yesterday and destroyed many homes, mainly in the Soalala district: authorities say more than 8,000 people are homeless.
This provisional assessment will probably increase in the coming hours: heavy accumulations of rain, and therefore floods, are to be expected throughout the trajectory of the cyclone.
The Luxembourg Red Cross, present in Madagascar since October 2018, is precisely working to improve the communities’ response capacities to cyclones. In anticipation of this type of extreme weather event, the Red Cross has prepared to act quickly. Antje Mengel, head of operations in the country, said, “We will help a minimum of 500 families severely affected by the cyclone, including providing shelter, caring for the injured and providing clean water. More specifically, in the area of shelters, a minimum of 500 shelter kits, 1000 tarpaulins, 1000 blankets and 500 kitchen kits will be distributed as soon as the Malagasy Red Cross teams, who are already in the region, have access disaster victims. “
Madagascar has one of the highest levels of cyclone risk in Africa with an occurrence of three or four tropical storms or cyclones per year. The hurricane season runs from November to April, with maximum risk during the four months of southern summer, between January and April.
How to support the Luxembourg Red Cross?
People wishing to support the Luxembourg Red Cross in its action against the consequences of cyclone Belna in Madagascar can make a donation via Facebook, or make a transfer:
IBAN LU52 1111 0000 1111 0000
Communication: Emergency Madagascar – Cyclone Belna