On his journey, from the tarmac of Petite-Terre airport to the hospital center, Emmanuel Macron was questioned by bruised and desperate residents. “Stay a week!” Go through every corner. Mayotte, nothing remains. It’s all gone”begged in tears Assane Halo, security employee at Petite-Terre airport, also pointing out the urgency of delivering water and food, and restoring electricity and supply in essence.
The president then boarded a gendarmerie helicopter to see the extent of the devastation in 101e and poorest French department. At the same time, the presidential convoy leaving the airport was booed as it passed a gas station where a long queue had formed.
“It’s crazy, we have the impression that the State has completely underestimated the scale” of the disaster, noted a Mahorais police officer on condition of anonymity to Agence France-Presse (AFP). “All resources are focused on Petite-Terre and Mamoudzou [sur Grande-Terre]the rest of the island is still cut off from the world. »
After the aerial reconnaissance, Mr. Macron went to the Mayotte hospital center (CHM), in Mamoudzou; the windows of the establishment were blown out, services flooded and equipment destroyed. “We want water! »a hospital agent called out to him. “People are fighting to get some water. Military planes have not arrived here »added a woman. The head of state, who wore a Mahorais scarf, spoke with them. “I’m going to see if we need to send more people.” to deliver water, he said. “Telephony will be restored in the coming days” to make it possible in particular to identify the missing, he added, conceding that ” a lot “ have not yet been able to be.
Emmanuel Macron must then go to “a destroyed neighborhood, in contact with the emergency services” mobilized since the cyclone, specifies the Elysée. He must finally “discuss the situation of the island with elected officials”. The president should also specify the “national mourning” which he intends to decree, and begin to outline the titanic reconstruction project.
