Communities on the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion are rallying to support the cyclone-hit island of Mayotte, located three hours away by air. Volunteers in Saint Denis, Reunion’s capital, are collecting food, water, clothing, and other essentials at a local community center, aiming to send the supplies via a military aircraft.
Mayotte, one of the poorest territories of France and closer to Africa’s coastline, was devastated by Cyclone Chido, its most severe storm in nearly a century. Authorities fear the death toll could reach hundreds, if not thousands, as entire neighborhoods have been flattened.
Survivors, desperate for water and shelter, wander through debris-filled streets. Volunteer Anrafa Parassouramin, whose family is in Mayotte, emphasized the urgency of delivering food and water, warning of potential disease outbreaks due to the lack of potable water.
“We will rebuild,” Parassouramin said. “Families are already showing incredible solidarity, but we’re also eagerly awaiting state aid.”
Many areas of Mayotte remain inaccessible, leaving the full scale of destruction unknown. Opposition politicians in mainland France have criticized the government for neglecting Mayotte and failing to prepare the island for extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change.
As Reunion’s residents step up with grassroots support, the international community awaits further updates on the crisis unfolding in Mayotte.