“We're thirsty. We're hungry.” The inhabitants of Mayotte are growing impatient with the aid that is arriving in dribs and drabs on Saturday, December 21, the day after the departure of the head of state, Emmanuel Macron. Friday evening,he president promised at least partial connection of homes to water from Saturday, after having been confronted for two days with the distress of the Mahorais due to the devastating passage of Cyclone Chido. “The priority of priorities is the fight for drinking water, drinking water”affirmed the Head of State, faced with the risk of dehydration which threatens isolated victims and sometimes deprived of drinking water and food. Emmanuel Macron assured several local media to guard against “the emergency”but he also warned that “for months, Mayotte will not live in a normal situation”. Follow our live stream.
Around 600,000 liters of water distributed every day. “Already 80 tonnes of food and 50 tonnes of water were distributed in nine municipalities yesterday”declared the resigning Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau on “everything is in place to distribute 600,000 liters of water per day.” This represents a little less than two liters per person, in an area where it is currently over 30 degrees. On Saturday, 50 additional volunteers from the French Red Cross will take off from the mainland to reach Mayotte.
Some schools will remain closed on January 13. Not all schools will be able to reopen at the start of the school year on January 13, the president warned in an interview with the Mahorais media, including Mayotte La 1ère. “We want to be able to provide a solution to all families” on this date, he assured Friday, referring in particular to the schooling of students in neighboring Reunion Island.
A still very provisional assessment. Six days after the passage of Cyclone Chido, the provisional toll stands at 35 dead and some 2,500 injured, according to figures from the Ministry of the Interior. “It is likely that there are many more victims”recognized Emmanuel Macron, recalling that a mission had been carried out to establish an exact assessment.
Controversy surrounding Emmanuel Macron's remarks. “If it wasn’t France, you would be 10,000 times more in trouble!”launched the president on Thursday, in the middle of the crowd who shouted their anger and despair. Comments which earned him strong criticism from the opposition in Paris. The head of state reacted to this controversy by claiming to have responded to “gens” of the National Rally which “insulted France (…) by saying we're not doing anything”.
