Cyclone Chido in Mayotte: Emmanuel Macron is on site, tense exchanges with caregivers

Five days after the passage of Cyclone Chido, which devastated the island of Mayotte, Emmanuel Macron arrived on site this Thursday morning. He is accompanied by the resigning Overseas Minister François-Noël Buffet. The President of the Republic’s plane was transporting healthcare personnel and 4 tonnes of freight.

Also read:
Cyclone Chido in Mayotte: donations, shipments… how to help the Mahorese population?

Emmanuel Macron went to the hospital in Mamoudzou, the capital of Mayotte, where he announced the deployment of a “field hospital” on Friday. Caregivers from Mayotte, visibly irritated, did not hesitate to question Emmanuel Macron on the management of the disaster by the State for 5 days, as shown in images from Mayotte La 1ère.

“It’s Mayotte who finds herself with Mayotte,” said a caregiver. Emmanuel Macron assured that “if there was no solidarity from the entire Nation, there would not be all these efforts that have been made”. Caregivers told the President of the Republic that they saw the situation deteriorating day by day, pointing out the failings of the State. Victims have not drunk water for more than 48 hours.

“It’s speech!”

“The subject today is not to say and blame what is wrong, but rather to ensure that things get better,” insisted Emmanuel Macron. “It’s just talking,” replied a member of the nursing staff.

A little earlier, a resident of Mayotte had told the head of state: “Mr. President, do not leave too quickly. Mayotte is demolished. We are without water, we are without electricity, without food. There is no has no place to go because everything is demolished. We are not even safe with our children.

Also read:
Cyclone Chido in Mayotte: “Everything is devastated” The shocking testimony of a nurse from Tarn installed on site

“We will get back together”

Upon arriving there, Emmanuel Macron wrote on his X account: “Mahorais, we will get back together” (“Pandza ata pandza urehema”).

The state of exceptional natural calamity

The government has declared a state of exceptional natural calamity in Mayotte. This is the first time that this device has been activated. It will allow “faster and more effective management of the crisis” and “facilitate the implementation of emergency measures”, underlined Overseas Minister François-Noël Buffet.