Press release
Madagascar: Action Against Hunger deploys emergency response following Cyclone Gezani and launches appeal for solidarity
On Tuesday, February 10, intense tropical cyclone Gezani struck the east coast of Madagascar, hitting the city of Toamasina with full force. Action Against Hunger teams on the ground are working with affected populations to provide emergency assistance and help coordinate the humanitarian response to ever-increasing needs.
“The cyclone caused massive destruction: homes were ravaged, neighborhoods were submerged, roads were cut off, and there were widespread power and telecommunications outages,” said Dr. Robert Sebbag, President of Action Against Hunger, upon his return to France after visiting Madagascar at the time of the disaster.
Action Against Hunger immediately provided logistical support, including chainsaws, a generator, and a satellite connection to facilitate emergency coordination. The priority needs are emergency shelter, access to drinking water, health care, food aid, and the restoration of essential services.
In the coming days, teams will distribute kitchen kits and hygiene kits to several shelters, including Toamasina II, to meet the most urgent needs. Given the scale of the crisis, ACF is also launching an appeal for solidarity to support the communities that have been hardest hit.
According to the latest information from the Ministry of the Interior and the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management, there are currently 31 dead, 4 missing, and 35 injured. Several hundred thousand people have been affected and thousands have had to seek refuge in shelters that are already under pressure.
The country, already severely affected by a disastrous humanitarian situation marked by chronic food insecurity, recurrent droughts in the south, and high climate vulnerability, now sees its fragilities further exacerbated by this disaster. In 2025, more than 1.2 million people in southern Madagascar were already food insecure.
“In the Great South, the main challenge remains acute malnutrition among very young children. The lean season and the sharp decline in agricultural production in many districts are further aggravating the situation,” explains Dr. Sebbag. “Action Against Hunger is heavily involved in providing nutritional treatments, medicines, and awareness-raising activities to communities.”