If commercial flights are impossible from Petite-Terre, repatriations to Reunion and France continue. On site, there is a crush between those on “the list” and those who have come to try their luck. The Mahorese population believes they are discriminated against.
In Petite-Terre, the Marcel-Henry airport is still closed and commercial flights have been suspended since the passage of Cyclone Chido. However, there is a rush at the entrance. Repatriations started several days ago and a significant number of Mahorais feel they are victims of a policy of “double standards”…
What has changed is the procedure communicated by the Mayotte prefecture last weekend. To leave the stricken island, departure candidates must meet a certain number of criteria and put together their file to be sent by email.
Among these prioritization criteria, the state of their housing, the health and medical situation or even the family situation. Foreigners (regularly present) and non-residents also have priority in order to free up hotel places for reinforcements, explain the authorities. But also the relatives of the personnel managing the crisis (police officers, gendarmes, soldiers).
The fact remains that the first images of these repatriations, therefore concerning state officials, and shared in particular by the influencer Sally on social networks, shocked a large part of the local population feeling wronged.
During his controversial speech in Pamandzi, President Emmanuel Macron may have called for respect for all, ensuring that state services did not make distinctions. This feeling of discrimination is still there. “Everyone fights, regardless of skin color! Don’t pit people against each other!”urged the head of state.
The subject remains significant as you now have to be on the prefecture's “list” to be able to leave the island. Meeting at the airport with this young Mahoraise who does not live in Mayotte and who has to return to work.
•
©Mayotte La 1ère
“I took all the steps but I still haven't heard back, so I came to see if I could do something from the airport“, she says. “This is my second day here trying to find solutions. There are quite a few people sleeping here, I don't, thank goodness“.
The young woman describes a “catastrophic organization“. “People don't know when they're leaving, we're not even sure if we're on the list. There are a lot of communication problems. It's not normal that there's so much clutter“.
•
©Mayotte La 1ère
“What saddens meshe continues, it's the fact that we tell people who are not on the list that they cannot leave, while some people still manage to do so by playing on their knowledge. That's not fair to the rest of us who don't have arms that long.“.
An observation that can undoubtedly be made, whatever the country, in a situation of extreme crisis. “In a situation like this, everyone should be considered the same“, however, insists our interlocutor.
Anzifati is on the list. Her husband is a police officer and she is therefore part of the contingent of relatives of civil servants who have obtained authorization to leave.
She explains that she made the decision to leave the island for her children, “as it is uncertain whether school will be able to resume normally“.
“We've been up since 5am, there were no exact departure times but ultimately we're leaving this evening. We are relieved to be able to leave“, she whispers.
•
©Mayotte La 1ère
Damien is a college teacher and he is also waiting for his turn to leave Mayotte. He was able to get quick confirmation that he was leaving the island by dialing the rectorate's crisis number. “The steps are quite simple to do“, he explains.
However, on site, it's a little less simple. “I have been waiting since this morning and they explain to me that the lists are mixed between those of the rectorate, the ARS, or Justice and it is the prefecture which ultimately chooses who goes. So it is independent of the will of the rectorate, we must wait“.
At the same time, the prefecture of Mayotte announced on Facebook the restoration of maritime links between Mayotte and the Union of the Comoros (Anjouan) as of Wednesday, December 25. Two SGTM boats were requisitioned by the State to allow these so-called repatriationshumanitarian“.
“All Comorian nationals, without conditions of status and financial resources, will therefore be able to return to their country.“, writes the prefecture. The first departure will therefore take place this Wednesday December 25 at the quay of the international maritime terminal (Quai Ballou) from 9:00 a.m.
“Passengers will only be able to take one piece of luggage with them per person.“, it is further clarified.
