A week after the devastating cyclone Chido, Pauline Debled was finally able to contact her family by telephone. “Not being able to reassure my loved ones as quickly as possible is what I missed the most,” confides the 22-year-old Carantécoise, an architecture student in Lyon and currently on an internship in Mayotte. A week ago, his house in Tsingoni was completely destroyed by the cyclone. “When the wind started to blow violently, the roof tore off, then the water started to rise in the house, the beams shook and there was this deafening noise that terrified us. My roommates thought we were all going to die. »
“Be useful”
With friends, the young Finistère found new accommodation, further south, in Bandrélé. “Every morning,” she says, “we go to the town hall to ask how we can be useful. At first, I went to fetch water from the well, which I distributed to the residents. For several days, we have continued to distribute water, but also diapers, milk, pasta… Among the bangas
the worst is the smell of corpses. »
“The rats are starting to arrive”
On site, Pauline strives body and soul to support the Mahorais. “There is a real outpouring of solidarity to clean schools, rebuild homes… We are also missing nails, sheet metal and construction materials,” she wants to point out.
A huge problem: garbage management
La Bretonne also reminds us that Mayotte needs water, food and fuel. “There are only three gas stations open but they are reserved for the military,” she explains. Those who want to intervene, such as nurses, cannot do so due to lack of fuel to travel. »
“We have another big problem, it’s garbage management, because the rats are starting to arrive,” warns Pauline, who barely followed Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Tsingoni on Friday. “We had other things to do,” she said.
The Carantécoise does not yet know if she will return to mainland France soon. “Started in September, my internship ends in March, but I would like to stay here to be useful. And, even if I have to leave, I know that I couldn't not come back to Mayotte. I can't leave them like this. »
Day of national mourning and arrival of three ships
As Emmanuel Macron announced during his visit to Mayotte, a day of national mourning will be observed this Monday, December 23. “We all share the pain of the Mahorais,” the head of state declared on X. “Our flags will be at half-mast. All French people will be invited to worship at 11 a.m. There will be a minute of silence in all public services and the population will be invited to observe it.
On the other hand, the prefect of Reunion Island announces that the Maritime Affairs patrol boat, the Osiris II, will “provide assistance to Mayotte”. The ship set sail on Saturday with 100 tonnes of equipment on board, including a large stock of Red Cross water tanks, food packages and drinking water, and various other materials: generators, clothing, coating for roof protection, equipment for combating marine pollution and maritime radiocommunications.
Depending on navigation conditions, the Osiris II will reach Mayotte at the start of the week. The patrol boat will then insert itself between the two CMA-CGM container ships: the Kailas, which is due to set sail this Monday, and the Onego Bora, which left Reunion Island on December 18, and whose arrival is scheduled for this Monday.
*Small traditional houses
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