The Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS), in collaborative effort with the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) has once more launched a food donation appeal for vulnerable populations in Madagascar.
This was done in the presence of staff from the RCSS, members of the SDF, as well as representatives of the media in a press conference on Tuesday 04th February 2025 at the SDF headquarter at Bel Au.
The appeal will be the third one the RCSS has launched to date, with both parties having a history of working together to provide aid to Madagascar during times of crisis. This initiative not only reinforces the partnership between RCSS and SDF but also increases the efficacy of future humanitarian initiatives.
All three branches of the SDF, namely the Coast guard, Airforce and special forces will be taking part of the joint exercise offering a strategic opportunity to ensure the efficient transportation and delivery of the donations to Mahajanga, Madagascar that is due to take place between the 18th – 25th of April 2025.
The RCSS will be facilitating the collection of both non-perishable food items and monetary donation and will be closely working alongside the Malagasy Red Cross in order to ensure proper documentations and distributions to the affected communities. Donation points across Seychelles, including the RCSS headquarters, community centers, and La Domus will be set up to facilitate the collection of donations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will additionally assist to facilitate entry into Madagascar to enable effective logistical operations and coordination.
During the press conference, both the Secretary of the RCSS, Ms. Marie-May Esparon and Chaplain Louis Agathine of the SDF stressed on the importance of such an appeal as it will help to build capacity and more resilient communities in Madagascar. Both parties called upon the generosity of the public and organizations in Seychelles to contribute what they can in the hopes of making a difference in the lives of those being impacted.
The situation in Madagascar
Heavy rains and cyclones often result in severe flooding in Madagascar. The country’s topography, with its numerous rivers and highland areas, contributes to the vulnerability of local communities to flooding. The frequency and magnitude of floods have increased in recent years, exacerbating the challenges faced by the country.
Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi – January 2025
- 7,000 people affected by Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi with over 1,000 houses damaged and 203 destroyed.
- Displacement sites have been vacated in the north of Madagascar as the displaced people have returned to their homes as of 15 January.
- Schools resumed on 13 January in some areas in the north of Madagascar. However, school courses for over 8,000 children have been disrupted as nearly 250 classrooms were damaged or destroyed by winds.
Tropical Cyclone Elvis – January 2025
- Caused the deaths of five people and two people injured.
Tropical Cyclone Faida – February 2025
- Formed over the southern Indian Ocean on Jan. 23 and made its way to Mauritius and Réunion Island on Feb. 2 before heading to northern Madagascar.
- After making landfall in Madagascar on Feb. 4, it’s expected to affect the Analamanga, Alaotra Mangoro, Analanjirofo, Atsinanana and Sofia regions.
Appeal of 2022
Following severe storms that hit Madagascar in March 2022, the RCSS and SDF coordinated efforts to gather and sort food and clothing supplies for the affected communities. With the goal to assist disadvantaged populations in Madagascar, the RCSS had received food, water, and other essentials as part of a larger appeal. Following the campaign, a total of 2,500,000 rupees (SCR250,500) were contributed to the Malagasy Red Cross, which resulted in the support of around 1,200 households, and 9.020 tons of items were collected and handed over to help those in need.
