Mayotte's Storm: Helping Hands in Desperate Times

Tropical Cyclone Chido brought devastation to Mayotte, an island territory off Africa’s eastern coast. The deadly storm, which struck over the weekend, has left at least 22 people dead and many more feared lost. Mayotte's authorities have declared a curfew as they rush to provide essentials like food and water. The true death toll might take days to determine because many residents in this French territory are undocumented immigrants living in vulnerable shanty towns.

The cyclone didn't spare Mozambique either, killing at least 34 people and destroying or damaging over 35, 000 houses. Aid agencies worry that the numbers could rise as the full extent of the disaster becomes clear. Officials touring Mayotte reported that the destruction was widespread, with no corner of the archipelago left untouched. France's interior ministry shared videos of emergency workers cutting through fallen trees to clear power lines and roads. About 70% of the road network has been cleared, according to the ministry.

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