BBC News | AFRICA | Madagascar rescue mission begins

BBC News Online: World: Africa

Monday, 13 March, 2000, 15:42 GMT

Madagascar rescue mission begins

Many communities have yet to receive aid

A French aircraft carrier, the Jeanne d'Arc, has reached Madagascar to add impetus to the relief effort following two devastating cyclones.

If we are lucky, we will have good weather and they will make a lot of flights
Aid worker Haladou Salha

Six navy helicopters on board have now started reconnaissance flights seeking at least 2,000 people thought to be completely stranded by flood waters in the north-east of the world's fourth largest island.

Two Puma helicopters will begin distributing food soon, which for many communities will be the first aid they will have received since the first cyclone hit three weeks ago.

Haladou Salha, the UN World Food Programme's country manager says the French helicopters are only available until Thursday - so luck and good weather are vital.

"The next three days are very important," he said.

There is still little hard information about the plight of isolated communities in the north-east and east of the island.

At this stage, it is thought that many rice paddy fields have been smothered by sand, and cash crops such as coffee and bananas destroyed.

Madagascar flood
150 dead
560,000 affected
10,000 homeless
12,000 stranded

Before the cyclones hit, Madagascar was already struggling to cope with a cholera crisis that had killed at least 1,200 in recent months.

The WFP has diverted an Antonov transport aircraft from the emergency operation in Mozambique to help with the movement of supplies.

Mozambique appeal

The WFP are launching an appeal for $27m to help feed more than 500,000 people in Mozambique affected by flooding. boy with rations

The WFP says that the people who lost their homes and their farmland will need help for the next six months.

WFP requested $13m at the start of the emergency.

At least $150m has already been pledged by Western donors towards reconstruction of the country, one of the world's poorest.

Mozambican Government officials estimate the cost of rebuilding will be more than $250m.

At the moment, 250,000 flood victims are estimated to remain in 96 makeshift camps.

Many of these are expected to try to return to their home areas as soon as they can.

Seeds

Where possible, the aid agencies want them to do so because of the approaching planting season which is April and May. people on car

Alongside relief food, the agencies want to start distributing seeds to farmers so at least some of them can begin working again.

"If we don't start getting seeds to the farmers now, they will miss the September harvest and we will have to support them until April 2001," said the WFP's Lindsey Davies.

Over the weekend, fair weather boosted the aid distribution effort, but there is an urgent need for roads to be repaired.

WFP say they will intoduce a food-for-work scheme where people will help to rebuild roads in return for food.

Latest figures put the number of dead in the floods at almost 500 - but that is expected to rise, especially from disease.

Related to this story:
Weather boosts aid effort (12 Mar 00 | Africa)
Eyewitness: Madagascar left reeling (10 Mar 00 | Africa)
Aid reaches Madagascar (10 Mar 00 | Africa)
The floods: A regional disaster (28 Feb 00 | Africa)
Nature's lethal weapons (28 Aug 99 | World)
Rain disrupts relief operation (09 Mar 00 | Africa)
In pictures: The floods' terrible legacy (07 Mar 00 | Africa)

Internet links: South African Weather Bureau | Madagascar Online (in French) | UN Humanitarian Affairs | Disasters Emergency Committee |
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