The damage caused by the passage of Cyclone Chido is still visible in Mayotte. Since December 14, debris sometimes still litters the streets of the archipelago. Jean-Marc Sauvé, president of the Fondation des Apprentis d’Auteuil, returns from Mayotte. He describes “buildings that have been seriously damaged or knocked to the ground” et “trees that have been cut, uprooted, uprooted”. Faced with this, he recommends a long-term action planto solve the problems “of the poorest territory in the European Union”.
Among the Mahorais, the trauma is still strong
Although it has been almost a month since Cyclone Chido hit Mayotte head on, the fear has not yet completely subsided in Mayotte. In particular, the first aid work which seems to never end. Of the 2,500 young people that the Fondation des Apprentis d'Auteuil supports, many of them have still not been identified after the natural disaster. Among the people that the rescuers were able to meet, Jean-Marc Sauvé describes a trauma. “There is a really special requirement to listen to and support these people who have experienced a terrible ordeal. In a way, they are survivors.” A job made difficult by the relative inaccessibility of Mayotte. “Unlike the West Indian zone, Mayotte is very far from French military bases. I would say that the closest site is Reunion, and it's two hours by plane. For the rest, we are 12 hours from the mainland.”
There is a truly special requirement to listen to and support these people who have experienced a terrible ordeal. In a way, they are survivors.
Life in Mayotte is still trying to get back to normal. The Fondation des Apprentis d'Auteuil, which ensures the operation of several continuing education centers and an adapted high school on the island, has not yet been able to start welcoming learners again. “The start of the school year was supposed to take place today, it will take place in the coming days in our high school, in our adapted education high school”. Daily life is also difficult due to partial restoration of services. “As I speak, water and electricity have not yet been restored everywhere. When the water is restored, it is restored for a certain number of hours per day, that is to say no more than 10 hours per day.”
Rampant structural problems predating Cyclone Chido
For Jean-Marc Sauvé, “the passage of Cyclone Chido only amplified a situation which was already very difficult”. According to him, the problems caused today by the natural disaster find their source in management errors on the archipelago. “During my last trip, it was in 2016, there were no these water problems. The water crisis emerged in 2022-2023, and has not been completely overcome. It involves quite significant work. The water supply was already not sufficient upstream of the cyclone.” During their visit, Emmanuel Macron and François Bayrou both promised rapid reconstruction of the island. Unrealistic projects for Jean-Marc Sauvé. For example, the slums should not be rebuilt but “15 days later, the shanty towns were largely rebuilt, notably from materials that were blown away by the cyclone.” For the president of the Fondation des Apprentis d'Auteuil, Chido must help resolve the fundamental problems in Mayotte.
Fifteen days after Chido, the shanty towns were largely rebuilt, notably from materials blown away by the cyclone.
If Jean-Marc Sauvé “I think that the emergency system, in the broad sense, with the relief that has been put in place and then the bill that will be voted on in the coming days are relevant responses”he advocates a longer-term project. The Auteuil Apprentice Foundation is working on a future activity plan for the years to come. A very long-term project to solve, Jean-Marc Sauvé hopes, the structural problems of the Mahorais.
