After the cyclone, how to help Mayotte from Saint-Nazaire

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Monday December 23, 2024, in the Petit Caporal district in Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantique). Three Nazairians are busy. In the room, the boxes are piling up. Since Cyclone Chido passed through Mayotte on December 14, solidarity has been established in Saint-Nazaire.

Days of anxiety

It is on television that these Nazairians, who all have family Mayottediscovered the island the day after the storm. They see the images of the houses on the ground. “I didn’t believe it. I saw the images of devastated Mayotte,” says Aurore, who has all her in-laws in Mayotte.

The Mahorese community of Saint-Nazaire met on Tuesday, December 17. Most had no news from their loved ones, but everyone wanted to help. “I couldn’t stay without doing anything,” explains the Nazairian.

After days of anguish, Aurore finally managed to contact her family. A week after the cyclone. “They are in the north of Mayotte. They are all shocked, but they are fine,” she breathes, relieved.

“My family members are surviving”

Elfa, who grew up in Saint-Nazaire and now lives in Nantes, came to lend a hand.

My family still lives here, the Mahorese community is very strong in Saint-Nazaire.

He also finally managed to have his grandmother who still lives on the island. “Fortunately, there were no deaths, but they have nothing left, no electricity. »

Eating, drinking… Everything has become complicated. “They are thirsty, they are in survival. »

A place to store

Organizing a collection therefore came naturally. A first crisis meeting was organized on the Tuesday following the cyclone in the premises of Ambition jeunesse in The Boulletterie. Around the table, residents of the neighborhood and several associations (Inhabitants at the heart, ASCM, Massiwa and Mafikiyano Tsara). It is the latter which oversees the operations.

Objective: send four containers of 68 tonnes in January.

Above all, we need water, canned goods, non-perishable foodstuffs, but also products for babies, hygiene products and medicines.

The association will also organize a charity day in January with shows and meals. Because she also has need money. Mafikiyano Tsara encrypted the convoy to Mayotte at 18 000 €. She therefore launched an online fundraiser and is looking for a place to store the donations.

A walk on Saturday

But behind the worry, the anger is palpable. “We have been the most neglected department in France for years. If our island was not in such pitiful state, the cyclone would not have caused so much devastation,” says Elfa, for whom “the results will be catastrophic. We are talking about Mayotte, but there are also all the countries on the African coast such as Mozambique. »

He recalls that in Mayotte, the population “has been living day to day for years”.

So, the Mahorese community of Saint-Nazaire decided to march on Saturday December 28. Meet at 10:30 a.m. in front of town hall. A march to collect donations, but also to raise public awareness. “We need a head of state who is with us. »

March Saturday, December 28 at 10:30 a.m. Meet in front of town hall. A “Solidarity for Mayotte” prize pool was launched on leetchi.com. For donations, contact Aurore on 07 64 14 35 43.

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