Cyclone Gezani: emergency response in Toamasina 

Painful Experience for Residents  

Many residents are still recovering from the shock and losses they suffered, such as Euphrasie, a 58-year-old teacher: “In an instant, our lives were turned upside down. The sky became our roof.” The roof of her house was blown away and, like many residents, she took refuge with her family at the Ampasimbola public primary school. With the kits provided by Action Against Hunger, she will be able to secure the roof and return home. Residents hope that further aid will reinforce this initial support, as needs remain considerable. 

Maurice, 48, is a ravinala roof weaver and mason. His house was swept away by the cyclone, and he spent the night alone in the forest. “I didn’t think I would survive,” he says, still shaken by the event. “Fortunately, I had sent my family to my parents’ house, in a safer area.” Returning to normal life still seems difficult, but his determination remains intact. “It will be hard, but we will get back on our feet, because we have to,” he says. 

Humanitarian Response on the Ground

On the ground, Action Against Hunger teams and local actors are working every day to restore access to essential services, distribute food aid, set up tents, support health facilities, and help the most vulnerable children and families. 

A multisectoral response was quickly organized under the coordination of the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management. As part of this intervention, funded by the European Union and the Start Fund, Action Against Hunger teams are focusing their efforts on two priorities: providing decent housing and ensuring access to drinking water and sanitation for the most vulnerable households. 

In the commune of Fanandrana, in the district of Toamasina II, families whose homes have been damaged are receiving shelter kits containing tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, ropes, a hammer and nails to quickly repair their roofs, as well as kitchen kits containing plates, utensils, pots, buckets and cups. Cash transfers are planned for homes that have been completely destroyed, to support reconstruction. A total of 550 kits have already been distributed through a logistics system that relies on a truck serving as a mobile warehouse to reach the hardesthit areas. 

“We need to repair our homes as quickly as possible to protect them, because there’s nothing better than being at home,” explains Euphrasie, who views this support as a chance to return home. 

 Marovavy Marie Julianna, a young mother of two, recalls the “endless” night she spent under a bed after her house was washed away: “This aid will be a new start to rebuild.” 

At the same time, access to drinking water has been restored thanks to the deployment of a mobile treatment plant. Installed at the Tananambo bridge in the commune of Fanandrana, this unit produces 5,000 liters per hour. The site was strategically chosen for its clean water source, which is free from pollution and located as close as possible to the population. 

These actions are helping to reduce health risks, protect households, and gradually restore normal life for residents. However, needs remain significant: durable shelters, continuous access to drinking water, restoration of livelihoods, and rehabilitation of essential services. In the hardesthit areas, any return to normalcy will rely on ongoing humanitarian mobilization and long-term support to help communities gradually rebuild their daily lives.