Angry residents of Mayotte, the French overseas territory hit by a cyclone, confronted French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit, Euronews reported on Friday, as the European Union pledged financial aid to support the region’s recovery.
“I come from Ouangani, there is no water, there is no supply,” a man told Macron, referring to Mayotte’s capaital.
“After six days, is that supposed to be normal? Do you think that is normal?”
Another resident questioned Macron if the sorry state of affairs in Mayotte was seen in other French territories, or if only Mayotte was being abandoned.
Macron arrived in the region in the Indian Ocean on Thursday and stayed overnight.
On Saturday, Cyclone Chido swept over the territory with storm gusts reaching speeds of more than 220 kilometres per hour. It left a trail of devastation.
Officially, more than 2,000 people are injured and 31 dead. However, the authorities fear a significantly higher number of fatalities.
EU to send help
The European Commission said it is organizing aid for Mayotte as well as for African countries impacted by Cyclone Chido.
The commission “will do everything” to support Mayotte, EU Crisis Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said in a statement, thanking EU member states for their assistance.
The commission will send €900,000 ($935,405) in emergency humanitarian aid to help affected communities in Mozambique focused on water supplies, healthcare and shelter.
Five humanitarian flights will also deliver 60 tons of emergency aid, including shelter supplies, from EU stocks in Nairobi to Pemba in Mozambique.
Hundreds of estimated casualties
Mayotte is located in the Indian Ocean, roughly between the coast of the south-east African country Mozambique and the island nation of Madagascar.
Around 310,000 people live on the group of islands. The average age of the young population is just 23 years.
Macron said he wanted to spend a bit more time with the population and relief workers and saw it as a sign of respect, as he explained in a video posted on the platform X.
Previously, the president had announced plans to rebuild Mayotte. He asserted during his visit to the archipelago that all means would be made available for this. For those without insurance, Macron plans to establish a compensation fund.
Local prefect François-Xavier Bieuville estimates several hundred casualties.
Life in Mayotte is fundamentally different than on the French mainland, more than 8,000 kilometres away.
More than three-quarters of the population live below the poverty line and people have less disposable income than in almost any other part of France, including the population of nearby La Réunion.
The economy on the archipelago, which was colonized by France in the mid-19th century, is poorly developed and many people are unemployed and live in makeshift homes.
Boys play boxing in the Kawani district of the town of Mamouzou on the French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. Angry residents of Mayotte, the French overseas territory hit by a cyclone, confronted French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit, Euronews reported on Friday, as the European Union pledged financial aid to support the region’s recovery. Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/dpa
