Madagascar
Storm, 09 Apr 2024
| Allocation | $3,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Emergency type | Storm |
| Window | Rapid Response |
| Recipient UN Agencies | FAO, IOM, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP, WHO |
| Group(s) of people targeted | Internally displaced persons, Other affected persons |
| Number of people targeted | 53,861 |
| Status | Report Available |
| Allocation code | 24-RR-MDG-64484 |
| Title | Madagascar RR Application Apr 2024 (Tropical Cyclone Gamane) |
Overview of the humanitarian situation
Tropical Cyclone Gamane struck Madagascar on 27 March 2024, primarily affecting the northeastern regions of Antalaha, Vohemar, and Sambava. Heavy rainfall and flooding caused widespread devastation, impacting over 533,000 people. The disaster resulted in 19 deaths and left 4 individuals missing. More than 22,000 people, including 2,714 pregnant women, were evacuated or displaced. Approximately 18,000 earth-built residential huts were damaged by flooding, and extensive rice fields were flooded, leading to anticipated harvest losses in May. The floods also created a dire need for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, increasing the risk of infant mortality, malnutrition, and disease outbreaks. Strong winds destroyed nearly 5,000 houses and damaged some 200 classrooms, leaving over 33,000 students without access to education. Additionally, 22 health facilities sustained partial damage, and damaged roads hindered access to healthcare services, exacerbating the challenges faced by vulnerable populations. The cyclone caused significant damage to road infrastructure in the remote northeastern region, limiting access to affected areas to sea or air transportation due to major damage to national roads.
CERF-funded assistance
This $3 million CERF Rapid Response allocation provided life-saving assistance to 47,157 people including 11,513 women, 26,608 children and 2,820 persons with disability in Antalaha, Vohemar, and Sambava, i.e. the regions worst affected by Tropical Cyclone Gamane. The allocation supported multiple sectors, including Food Security, Protection (including Child Protection and Gender-Based Violence), Education, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Health (including reproductive health), Shelter, and Logistics. Specific activities included the provision of agricultural inputs, veterinary services, cash and food assistance, child protection assessments, psychosocial support, temporary classrooms and school learning materials, water point rehabilitation, distribution of hygiene kits and emergency health kits, disease control and management, emergency vaccinations, reproductive health services, shelter rehabilitation, and logistical support for aid delivery. These efforts addressed immediate needs of the affected communities and supported early recovery efforts in the aftermath of the cyclone over six months.
CERFs Strategic Added Value
As an area newly affected by a humanitarian situation, and where the presence of humanitarian actors was limited to a few NGOs, the coordination and sectoral response mechanism was weak and on standby for several years. CERF multisectoral projects were able to quickly revitalize this multisectoral response mechanism. Multisectoral needs were identified just a few days after the cyclone struck, and CERF projects were the first to contribute to these multisectoral needs in a smart manner. With geographical prioritization down to the commune level, projects focused on communes classified as top priority, which is why even the district of Vohemar, where the cyclone made landfall, remained in phase 2 of the IPC for the following months. This CERF funding led to a fast delivery of assistance to people in need. The affected areas were very far from the capital, and the national road connecting it to the capital was cut off for almost three months. Logistical support through UNHAS to deploy staff and humanitarian supplies began the day after the cyclone. This meant that aerial surveys, rapid multisectoral assessments, and responses could begin immediately. Additionally, this funding responded to time-critical needs, with agencies being present on site making it possible to begin responding immediately. Moreover, this CERF funding improved coordination amongst the humanitarian community. Through geographical prioritization based on assessments supported logistically by CERF, the coordination of responses has been made clearer for all stakeholders. Finally, this CERF grant helped improve resource mobilization from other sources. Despite the absence of a flash appeal, this allocation sent a strong signal to donors about the existence of needs to be met. In addition, the results of the assessment, which would not have been possible without CERF's logistical support, helped to mobilize additional resources. Approximately $17 million was needed for the response, and the CERF allocation helped mobilize additional funding.