Mayotte declared extraordinary natural disaster after cyclone

A state of extraordinary natural disaster has been declared in Mayotte as the French Indian Ocean territory grapples with the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido.

At least 31 people have died, with thousands still missing after the cyclone hit small islands on Saturday, French officials said.

This type of emergency has been declared for the first time in France.

This step has been taken at a time when President Emmanuel Macron was scheduled to reach Mayotte on Thursday.

“We are waiting for them,” said Salama Ramia, the French senator from Mayotte.

He told the BBC that the priority should be to provide emergency food: “We hope the food will arrive today or tomorrow, but it is really urgent.

“One or two shops have opened but not everyone has money to buy food, and even the shops are starting to be empty, and so, food is really important for me.”

Designed specifically for France’s overseas territories, the emergency allows administrative barriers to be overcome to deal with the crisis more quickly and effectively.

It has been activated for one month, but can be extended for a period of two months if required.

“Faced with this extraordinary situation, extraordinary resources must be deployed to quickly restore vital services and implement a sustainable reconstruction plan for Mayotte,” said François-Noël Buffet, minister responsible for the overseas territories. “

Emergency services are delivering food and water and clearing roads, as well as working to find missing people.

Health workers are worried that infectious diseases could spread, as residents have reported a shortage of clean drinking water and shops are rationing supplies.

Officials have said their priority is to restart damaged water plants.

Half the area remains without electricity. A new curfew has been imposed To prevent looting, people have to stay in their homes for six hours throughout the night.

Mayotte is one of the poorest parts of France, with many of its residents living in shanty towns.

Macron’s administration has been criticized for underinvesting in Mayotte for several years.

It has been home to 100,000 migrants seeking asylum in France and living in informal settlements. It is believed that they were among those worst affected by the cyclone.

Chido- The worst storm to hit the archipelago in 90 years – Winds gusted to more than 225 km/h (140 mph) on Saturday, leveling areas where people live in metal-roofed huts and leaving fields of dirt and debris.

The storm struck the African mainland after Mayotte, killing at least 45 people in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi.