Make a donation to recognized associations
Several French associations quickly launched calls for generosity to support the 320,000 inhabitants of the archipelago, three-quarters of whom live below the poverty line. According to Secours populaire, “the needs are immense”. The association encourages donations by post or via its website, specifying “Emergency Fund”. “Significant damage has been reported and vulnerable people living in precarious habitats have suffered the full brunt of the violent winds,” underlines the NGO in its appeal.
The message is similar from the Red Cross, present on the island and in Reunion. The president of the French Red Cross, Philippe Da Costa, ensures that his teams are ready to intervene and invites the population to contribute to a dedicated fund to facilitate their action. For its part, Civil Protection, already mobilized on the ground, is also calling for donations via a special page “Emergency Mayotte, let’s support the affected populations”.
The Fondation de France, for its part, launched an appeal to help with “reconstruction”, specifying that its intervention will take place after the relief operations. The organization insists that donations must be exclusively financial, because the delivery of materials is complicated.
Join the health reserve
Mayotte's health system has been seriously affected by the cyclone and human reinforcements are necessary. Loïc Grosse, director of the Alert and Crisis department at Public Health France, launched an appeal on X to strengthen the health reserve and support the Mamoudzou hospital. Volunteers must be prepared to work in very difficult conditions, “including housing, transportation, food,” he warns.
Jérôme Marty, president of the French Union for Free Medicine, also invites available caregivers to report to [email protected] to go on site to help the populations. Furthermore, Geneviève Darrieussecq, resigning Minister of Health, announced that she had requested the intervention of around a hundred health professionals to respond to urgent needs on site, in the face of a seriously damaged health care system.
Calls for local solidarity
For those currently in Mayotte, local solidarity is also crucial. Police invited volunteer residents to gather in Mamoudzou to help clear branches and debris from roofs. “Do you have a van or tools?” Your help will be invaluable,” indicates the police on its Facebook page.
