Today’s photo shows how the Malagasy Red Cross Society is responding to tropical cyclone Haruna, which slammed into the southwest coast of Madagascar on February 22. The storm brought heavy rains and winds of over 170 kilometers per hour and crashed across the entire Big Island, leaving many villages and communities flooded.
To date, 18,000 people have been affected, 24 have died, and more than 1,100 homes have been destroyed. Infrastructure such as schools, government buildings, and health centres have been damaged as well.
Following the storm, volunteers with the Malagasy Red Cross Society immediately provided assistance to their communities, conducted evacuations, managed camps and offered psychosocial support to those affected. The main needs continue to be temporary shelter, food, water and sanitation.
As the situation evolves, the Malagasy Red Cross continues to conduct assessments in order to provide proper relief and response. Visit the IFRC to learn more about how the Federation is supporting relief efforts.