Arriving aboard a plane loaded with four tons of food and health aid, Emmanuel Macron made several announcements on Thursday, December 19, during his visit to Mayotte, devastated by the passage of Cyclone Chido five days ago. The head of state, who was initially due to return to France on Thursday evening, decided to extend his visit and spend the night there. National mourning, price blocking, increase in deportations at the border, franceinfo summarizes what to remember from the President of the Republic’s day in the department.
A day of national mourning Monday December 23
Emmanuel Macron has decreed that a day of national mourning will take place next Monday. “Our flags will be at half-mast. All French people will be invited to worship at 11 a.m.”he wrote on X. This announcement comes as the latest official report still shows 31 dead and thousands injured.
Recognition of the state of natural disaster
“Faced with the emergency, we are mobilizing all necessary means and recognizing the state of natural disaster”also announced the head of state on X. “What the Mahorais are going through is dramatic. In addition to the pain of bereavement and trauma, there are immense challenges”also wrote Emmanuel Macron. In addition to the recognition of the state of natural disaster, a state of exceptional natural calamity has been activated by the authorities. “This device has never been used before” must “enable more rapid and effective management of the crisis and facilitate the implementation of emergency measures”explained the Overseas Ministry, François-Noël Buffet, in a press release.
An increase in deportations to the border
Emmanuel Macron also affirmed that it was necessary to increase the number of deportations to the border of foreigners in an irregular situation from the overseas department, to go from 25,000 to 35,000 or 40,000 per year. “If we want to be effective, we have to put in the resources”declared the Head of State during an exchange with elected officials from the French archipelago in the Indian Ocean, subject to significant immigration from the neighboring Comoros. On Wednesday, the resigning Minister of the Interior also made a statement to this effect. Bruno Retailleau judged on BFMTV that“We will no longer be able to do things like before.” in matters of immigration to Mayotte, promising to be “much tougher towards the Comoros”.
A price freeze
A decree was published in the Official Journal to block the prices of consumer products in Mayotte at the levels reached on December 13. This concerns products such as mineral water, food products, animal feed, batteries, dressings, basic hygiene and cleaning products, as well as construction products and materials, electrical equipment and tools.
A compensation fund for the uninsured
Emmanuel Macron also rejected the accusations of “resignation” of the State in Mayotte in the face of the devastation caused by the cyclone and announced that the uninsured would benefit from compensation. “I cannot let it be said (…) that the State would have resigned here”he said when discovering the damage in a district of Mamoudzou, the capital of the department. “We are going to set up a compensation fund to support those who are not insured”he added, without specifying the amount. Alone 6% of buildings in Mayotte – whether for individuals or professionals – are insured by home insurance in the archipelago, according to the Central reinsurance fund (CCR). THE The costs of the damage caused by the passage of the cyclone, and covered by insurance, have already been estimated between 650 and 800 million euros by the French public reinsurer.
An underestimated assessment
“It is likely that there are many more victims” that the 31 “officially counted as of date”also admitted the President of the Republic to the press. “We will be able to identify (…) additional victims, give them a name, be able to pay tribute to them.” thanks to the census mission set up by the prefect with mayors and religious authorities, he added. From Sunday, the prefect of Mayotte said he feared “certainly several hundred” deaths in Mayotte, “maybe” even “a few thousand”.
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