Wednesday 5 March 2008

Appeal for aid - 5 March

Hurricanes Ivan and Fame have violently hit Madagascar. USD 36.5 million dollars are needed for reconstruction.
"At the moment, only 6 million are available. The rest is not yet covered, "said yesterday at Pano-rama, Jean Marie Stratigos, emergency coordinator in the UN. He presented the document Flash Appeal.

"This document is a mobilization of funds to support the acceleration of research funds for post-hurricane reconstruction," says Ka-mara Amadou, representative of FAO. "The priorities concerning food security and nutrition as 200000 people are in need of immediate assistance," said the representative. Then comes the drinking water sector which more than 5 million are needed, and the prevention of epidemics and the health sector. "Madagascar can only congratulate the United Nations for this support," said General Marcel Ranjeva, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Currently, the stock of the two hurricanes reported 96 deaths across the island and over 200000 affected.

5 March - pollution

Garbage

The resident population of the dam of Andramiarana filed a complaint with the common Antehiroka. She denounced the dumping of garbage into the nearby pond.
 
The waste threatens to pollute the water.
The dumping of Andramiarana situated along the embankment of the same name, has been the subject of a complaint from the local population, last month. The garbage piles up on an area of two hundred meters along the junction between the city of Ambohitrimanjaka that of Antehiroka.

The community that needs water Andramiarana feels thus threatened by the pollution caused by such debris who earn the nearby pond. A portion of this irrigated pond is converted into rice paddies, and the other is used for farming and brickmaking. Pierre Rakotoson, a resident, adding that the dumping of human waste in the water appears to be an abuse of power. The substance of the complaint has alarmed officials of the municipality of Antehiroka. Since February 25, the council has installed a checkpoint at the entrance of the dump trucks to prevent illegal immigrants from entering. "The leaders of this county are considering among other vidoir this move," says Martin Ratsimandresy, communal police to Antehiroka.

This territory has always been the place to dump garbage in the municipality. Without surveillance, individuals have taken the opportunity to infiltrate them, aggravating the situation because they scatter debris, according to the remarks of Peter Rakotoson.

5 March


After Hurricane Ivan
Desolation to Analanjirofo
After Hurricane Ivan, the worst is yet to come. In the region Analanjirofo, for example, the rice fields are devastated, breadfruit trees will not fruit this year. Warning Signs runners famine.
 
The devastation wrought by Hurricane "Ivan" weigh heavy for the region's economy.
Anxiety in the region Analanjirofo. The aftermath of Hurricane Ivan will not to affect the survival of the local population. The destruction of crops could jeopardize the harvest for this year. For now, the victims are trying to survive thanks to the stocks for the lean period and humanitarian aid granted by the state after the disaster.

"The food crisis will occur in a few weeks. All crops are destroyed. The region will be hit by famine, "said Nathalie Mena, a resident of the fokontany Manakambahiny, in the rural commune of Ambodimangan'i to Be Fénerive East. "The destruction of subtitution crops such as cassava, fruit bread and annuity products are making the situation worse. It no longer any source of money to remedy the situation, at least for one year, "she adds.
Yet Nathalie did not slow the arms. It has to find a solution to get up. It plans to restart with gardening, which it said creates less expenditure. "The culture of brèdes is the only source of quick money even if it does not cover our annual needs," she says.

Lack of rice
The region Analanjirofo turned into a scene of devastation after Hurricane Ivan, on 17 and 18 February. The green has been replaced by tree trunks uprooted.
The devastation wrought by Hurricane Ivan weigh heavy for the region's economy Analanjirofo. It is the largest producer of cloves with a production of cloves s'élévant to 10000 tonnes in favourable season, hence its Analanjirofo appelation. The production of gasoline extracted from leaves of giroflier is no exception. Analanjirofo provides the majority of the annual demand.

With a production of 190000 tonnes of rice per year, the region has a deficit of 50000 tons. This deficit will increase for the year 2008. "Neither culture bottom, or on rice-burning are promising for the next harvest. The dependence vis-à-vis other regions will grow significantly, "Rafanomezantsoa announcement Nivoary, director of the regional development Analanjirofo (DDR).

Aimé Tarehy Gilbert, head of the region Analanjirofo, fears the worst. "The famine is hard to face in two months. The damage left by Ivan are an impediment to the rapid development of the region if it does not solve the problems on time, "says he.
However, the regional plan to bring relief to farmers by providing seeds. For example, 10 tons of rice and 300 kilos of maize will be distributed to farmers in the coming days.
The sector is also litchis reached. The consequences are no less worrisome for the next campaign. "The beneficiaries located in the circuit to bear the ill effects of the disaster," laments Rafanomezantsoa Nivoary, DDR D'Analanjirofo. "The 60000 tonnes of annual production are chimeric for the 2008 campaign," she says.

Box
Lack of drinking water
Analanjirofo The region is exposed to all the dangers unless solutions occur on time. In addition to the famine which seriously threatens the population, epidemics are likely to make their appearance in the coming days.

Lack of clean water is the primary factor. In Fénérive East, the capital of the region Analanjirofo, the distribution company Jirama has not yet been able to restore supply for two weeks after Hurricane Ivan. Only those wells are used as alternatives. An awareness of water treatment is needed.

Saturday 23 February 2008

23 February - Slideshow

The below slideshow shows some images from the areas of Madagascar, affected by Hurricane Ivan. Some captions are in French, but even if you do not understand the language, the impact is clear enough.

Friday 22 February 2008

22 February

I have found out that the 9 people feared dead at Sainte Marie on Sunday, were in fact alive.

22 February - News in brief

Floods - The danger is always there. The warning issued yesterday by the Authority for protection against flooding of the plain of Antananarivo is still maintained. The level of Ikopa exceeded the alert for danger. It climbed 4 cm in 24 hours and La Mamba River, which also climbed 10 cm in 24 hours. That of Sisaony fell by 36 cm in 24 hours and will also remain stationary during the next 12 hours.

Help - French donation at Toamasina. A humanitarian cargo estimated at 657 million Ar is moving towards Toamasina. It is a help of the French Red Cross and the Platform for regional intervention of the Indian Ocean. The cargo of 12 tons is composed, among others, generators, chainsaws and tarpaulins.

Vavatenina
Threat of diarrhea
 
Diarrhoeal diseases are emerging in the district of Vavatenina. "Three fokontany are currently affected by diarrhoea," says Colonel Jean Rakotomalala, Executive Secretary, National Bureau of risk management and disaster (BNGRC).
Although stocks of medicines are already available in the areas affected by the hurricane, "the body of water throughout the island promoting the emergence of diseases associated with the phenomenon," suggests, for his part, Jean Louis Robinson, Minister of Health, Family Planning and Social Welfare.
On the other hand, dressed in the capital complain that the thrust of malaria. In other areas, health officials say an outbreak of dysentery is also a risk.

22 February - Appeal for aid

The government has appealed for international aid
 
"Both natural disasters have weakened Malagasy population. The needs are great in Madagascar. "These are the terms that Marcel Ranjeva, Minister of Foreign Affairs, launched yesterday in Anosy, the call for international solidarity. Fame and Ivan have ravaged in the Great Island. These hurricanes resulted in 42 fatalities, more than
80000 affected thousands

Cases of housing destroyed and more than 18000 hectares of rice fields flooded, according to the National Bureau of risk management and disaster (BNGRC). "Stocks to rescue the thousands of people who find themselves in an emergency situation are exhausted," says Colonel Jean Rakotomalala, Executive Secretary of BNGRC.
Heads of diplomatic missions and representatives of the international community have paid attention to the presentation of the heavy toll in the aftermath hurricane. Destroyed infrastructure, agriculture affected tourism in critical condition, the Great Island faces enormous needs. Although relief and interventions have been completed, the materials available are almost inadequate.

At last report, 29 deaths were recorded after the passage of Ivan. 70% of the roads are cut off. No figure has been put forward with regard to the needs. The UN system, represented by Xavier Leus, has confirmed its commitment to mobilise the international community. "We will use the funds rotation UN immediate release funds, in order to better assist the affected population," he says.

For his part, Jean Claude Boidin, ambassador of the European Union, did not hide his availability for the reconstruction of road infrastructure and strengthening the prepositioning stocks.