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Madagascar

Madagascar: Cyclones Situation Report No. 3 - 10 Mar 2008

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CONTEXT

1. Tropical cyclone Ivan struck Madagascar on Sunday 17 February, 2008 at wind speeds of more than 200 km per hour, affecting 14 regions and 44 districts. The regions of Fenerive Est, Sainte-Marie, Soanierana Ivongo, Vavatenina, Amparafaravola, Toamasina II were the most severely affected. According to figures released by the Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes (BNGRC), the number of deaths caused by Tropical Cyclone Ivan has risen to 93. More than 332,391 have been affected of whom 191,182 are displaced.

2. On 1 March 2008, the UN Country Team of Madagascar, in collaboration with the Malagasy Ministry of Foreign Affairs, launched an appeal to respond to the needs created by the devastating effects of cyclones Fame and Ivan. The international humanitarian community is seeking more than US$ 30 million to support the Government of Madagascar in providing relief to those who lost their homes, crops and other belongings in two tropical cyclones in less than a month. Immediate needs include: food, medicine, tents, water, water purification kits to prevent the spread of disease, as well as seeds and fertilizer to restore the country's agricultural production.

3. A moderate tropical storm Jokwe entered the bay of Ambodivahibe on Wednesday 5 March 2008 around midnight, before it left for the Mozambique Channel. The storm destroyed 44 houses in the district of Nosy Be, and affected 400 persons. The BNGRC sent 30 tons of rice, 10 tons of vegetables, and PPN for a value of 1 million Ariary for the region of Diana.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

4. According to BNGRC, 50,948 hectares of ricefields are flooded, of which 15,000 hectares in the region of Alaotra Mangoro, yielding 30% of the national rice production; 14,000 hectares in Mahajanga II; 8,860 in Marovoay; 3,141 hectares in Lalangina; 3,060 hectares in Midongy South; 2,808 hectares in the region of Betsiboka. 135,708 hectares of other crop fields are flooded.

5. Assessments on the damage caused by the tropical cyclones are still ongoing: a mission has been deployed to Betsiboka region and the area of Mampikony on the west coast, areas already hit by cyclone Fame. Another team is expected to leave soon to visit the region of Atsimo Atsinanana in the south east, prone to food insecurity. The numbers of those affected are expected to rise in the coming weeks as new areas are assessed and isolated communities reached.

6. In the capital the water levels have decreased, and most of the families have returned to their homes.

CONTACT DETAILS

Dia Stivanley Soa
Communications
Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes
+261 (0) 32 04 528 44
+261 (0) 34 01 225 99
dissoa@gmail.com

Jean-Marie Stratigos
Humanitarian Affairs Officer
Office of the Resident Coordinator/OCHA (Madagascar)
+261 320 50 76 92
stratigos@un.org

Alfred Nabeta Desk Officer (Geneva),
+41 22 917 2732

Mette Tangen, Desk Officer (New York),
+1 917 367 3001

Elizabeth Byrs, Press contact (Geneva),
+41 22 917 2653

Stephanie Bunker, Press contact (New York),
+1 917 367 5126

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