The damage is considerable and the human toll is likely to be high. After the passage of Cyclone Chido which ravaged Mayotte this weekend, the island's prefect fears “certainly several hundred” deaths, “perhaps” even “a few thousand”. The only hospital in Mayotte is “very damaged” and the medical centers are “inoperable”, according to the resigning Minister of Health, Geneviève Darrieussecq.
Faced with this terrible observation, solidarity is being organized online and dozens of pots have been launched to help the affected residents. How to distinguish reliable calls for donations? 20 Minutes gives you some advice so that your generosity benefits the people of Mahor.
The Red Cross, Popular Relief, Civil Protection…
When faced with a call for donations, it is useful to look at who is launching it: is it someone you know? Or an association? Several associations whose work is recognized have already launched appeals: the Mayotte Red Cross (to donate, click here), Secours populaire (donations here), as well as Civil Protection, which already has volunteers on site and launched actions of “emergency support, distribution of essential materials, clearing of houses and support for affected families”. The Civil Protection kitty is here.
The Fondation de France, which relies on local partners to help residents, has also launched an appeal for generosity (here). It promises to support the reconstruction of daily life: will thus be “privileged the projects of associations which will help families to rebuild their lives – find a roof and basic equipment, resume an activity… – and which will allow the community to rebuild a social, associative and educational life.” The Foundation will also “support small artisans and farmers” to rebuild a professional activity.
The association of overseas municipalities and communities is also showing solidarity with Mayotte by launching a prize pool (here). The money collected will be donated to families via the CCAS (communal social action centers) of the archipelago.
Leetchi claims to have “set up automatic checks”
Internet users also launched calls for donations on social networks and on the Leetchi website. Be careful on social networks, it is better to carefully check the identity of the person making the call. The Leetchi site, on which at least ten prize pools have been launched, assures 20 Minutes have “set up automatic checks” for the prize pools. The site also claims to have a “dedicated team” to security. Users can also report suspicious prize pools and Leetchi claims to treat these reports “as a priority”.
Since the passage of Cyclone Chido on Saturday, aid has started to arrive in Mayotte. 800 members of Civil Security were sent there and a field hospital deployed. An air and sea bridge has also been deployed from Reunion Island, without the aid currently covering all the essential needs of residents.
