February 17, 2012
Cyclone Giovanna causes widespread damage in Madagascar

Tropical cyclone Giovanna hit the island of Madagascar on Tuesday February 14, seriously damaging agriculture, livestock, homes and infrastructure in many of the areas in which WaterAid operates.

We are now working with our local partners to establish the extent of the damage and to ensure those affected regain access to clean water and adequate toilets.

The area of Ankadikely Ilafy has been hit the hardest, with 247 people seeking temporary shelter in the elementary school and church, where they can access clean water and latrines. Almost 90% of household latrines have been destroyed, posing a health risk as people resort to open defecation.

A total of 434 people in Mahanoro have been made homeless by the cyclone, which devastated around 30% of infrastructure in the area. The local water company managed to restore the water supply in the northern part of the city, but the southern area still has no access to safe water.

The association in charge of household waste management is overwhelmed by the huge quantity of waste, which, coupled with the affected water sources, could have a negative impact on public health.

The emergency response has been slow in Vatomandry, where an estimated 80% of infrastructure has been damaged, including houses, schools and other public buildings. Many people are now seeking shelter in schools and community houses. Access to clean water has been affected and several multi-family latrines are destroyed or have been flooded.

In Sabotsy Namehana, 40 families have been affected by the floods and have been forced from their homes. With nowhere safe to go to the toilet, some are having to defecate outside.

Reports suggest that the devastating storm, which hit with winds of up to 120 mph, killed at least 16 people and left 11,000 homeless.