Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Cyclone, 02-19-2008
On February 17, 2008, Tropical Cyclone Ivan hit Madagascar’s densely populated eastern coastal areas in Toamasina Province and the offshore island of Ile Sainte Marie. Upon landfall, Ivan was a category three cyclone, bringing heavy rains and winds of more than 125 miles per hour to the affected regions. At least 28 people have been reported dead and 300,000 others were affected, according to the Government of Madagascar’s National Office for Natural Disasters Preparedness. Preliminary reports indicated significant displacement of the population due to flooding and damage to houses, infrastructure, and fields. Communities in affected areas were cut off from regular ground transportation, according to the U.S. Embassy in Antananarivo.
On February 19, U.S. Ambassador R. Niels Marquardt declared a disaster due to the impact of Cyclone Ivan. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $100,000 through USAID/Madagascar to CARE and the U.N. World Food Program to re-establish ground access to affected communities and deliver emergency relief supplies and food aid.
On February 23, USAID/OFDA delivered 320 rolls of plastic sheeting valued at $213,100 including transport, providing shelter assistance to more than 3,000 affected families.
Additional Disaster Declaration:
Cyclone, 03-23-2007
 |
A beneficiary of an agricultural recovery program walks through her fields in Madagascar |
Between December 2006 and March 2007, five successive tropical storms and cyclones hit Madagascar, including Bondo in December, Clovis in January, and Gamede and Favio in February. On March 15, Tropical Cyclone Indlala struck Madagascar’s northeastern coast in Antalaha District with winds up to 165 km/h, killing 21 people and affecting more than 23,000 others. Rainfall from the storms led to widespread flooding, damaging infrastructure, destroying crops, and threatening local food security. In response to the storms, the Malagasy National Office for Disaster Management and Preparedness provided affected populations with emergency relief supplies, including food, plastic sheeting, and tents. Effective early warning and alert systems minimized the casualties from the storms; however, the consecutive cyclones and extensive flooding depleted local and national response resources, leading the Government of Madagascar to request international assistance. From March 14 to 21, a USAID assessment team visited affected regions in Madagascar to evaluate the damage from Cyclone Indlala and previous storms.
On March 23, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Henderson M. Patrick declared a disaster due to widespread flooding from Cyclone Indlala. In response, OFDA provided $50,000 to implementing partner CARE to restore ground access to isolated regions and provide emergency relief supplies to affected populations. OFDA allocated an additional $50,000 to the U.N. World Food Program to improve logistical capacity and transport food assistance to remote communities affected by the cyclones.
Back to Top ^ |
