Two rescuers from Meurthe-et-Moselle are taking the plane this Saturday evening towards Reunion, before reaching Mayotte. For two weeks, Civil Protection volunteers will come to the aid of the Mahorese population after the passage of Cyclone Chido.
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Blandine Morel and Alexandre Mayeux check the contents of their travel bag one last time. Change of clothes, helmet, gloves, mosquito net, sleeping bag or first aid kit, everything is in place in the white Civil Protection truck. The more important equipment is already on site, in Mayotte, where the two volunteers will carry out their mission. The first aid nurse and the director of the departmental branch volunteered to reach the archipelago devastated by Cyclone Chido on December 14, and lend a hand to the population.
On site, they will have several missions such as setting up dispensaries to provide care or clearing the roads. This last activity is crucial, recalls Alexandre Mayeux, departmental director of the civil security association: “This helps prevent the spread of diseases and is important for residents to return to normal life: this is also the objective of our mission.” Unlike the first rescuers who left in the emergency, Alexandre and Blandine will have guaranteed accommodation and food.
“It was very difficult for them, since there were freight and material problems, underlines Alexandre Mayeux. We arrive in better conditions, so we will be more resilient from the start.” Which does not prevent a little apprehension on Blandine's side. “It’s a situation I’ve never experienced, confides the first aid nurse. The conditions will be tough in terms of accommodation and food, but for the Mahorese people it is even more complicated.”
To prepare, Blandine followed the information constantly, but she mainly relied on the advice of her colleagues and her director. Alexandre Mayeux already experienced a similar crisis situation when he went to the island of Saint-Martin after the passage of Cylon Irma in 2017.“It’s a mission that has been important in my life and in my career as a first aider, we’ve been through a lot,” relate-t-il.
While the authorities are struggling to establish an assessment of the number of deaths, some residents still lack water, electricity and food in certain areas of Mayotte, and the many people in an irregular situation fear approaching the authorities to obtain the care they need.
“These are long missions, where we will potentially find bodies, be with populations who are in distress, explains Alexandre Mayeux. We're going to absorb a little bit of this distress, so it's important to talk about it.” Civil Protection volunteers are used to talking to each other daily during missions, a psychological unit is also offered to those who wish.
