The 2022 cyclone season had a devastating impact on communities in southeastern Madagascar. Homes were destroyed, crops ruined, and livelihoods lost, leaving more than 400,000 people in urgent need of assistance.
Today, alongside
@NLinGeneva Ambassador Paul Bekkers, I visited the communes of Ankatafana and Tsaravary, which were severely impacted by the February 2022 storm. During our field visit, I witnessed firsthand the remarkable work and ongoing recovery efforts from the Malagasy Red Cross.
I was impressed to see a newly built warehouse and offices as well as the evacuation centre that have been built thanks to the support of the European Union through our Programme Partnership.
We also had the opportunity to assist in cash distribution, a critical component of our humanitarian work, aiming at providing shelter and promoting dignity and choice for those in need.
The pressures of the climate crisis require both immediate emergency response and longer-term measures to help people recover.
I salute the
@MadaRedCross for their vital role not only in the initial response but also in strengthening community resilience to future cyclones.