Cyclone Chido: How is MSF responding in Mayotte and Mozambique?

Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is closely monitoring the situation in Mayotte following the impact of Cyclone Chido which made landfall on Saturday 14 December.

We are currently gathering information and establishing an emergency team to visit the island as soon as the situation allows. Once there, they will assess the medical and humanitarian situation and the need for a potential emergency response.

How MSF responds to humanitarian emergencies

Initial reports indicate a very serious situation on the island, with water and electricity supplies cut off, roads severely damaged, communication difficulties and a serious human toll - the true extent of which remains unknown at this stage. 

We are particularly worried about the people living in the shantytowns, which have been completely destroyed. The living conditions of people here were already extremely precarious before the cyclone hit. 

Between May and August 2024, MSF teams worked on the island to respond to a cholera epidemic. They also developed programmes to improve access to water, hygiene and sanitation, and to support local organisations with health promotion on diarrhoeal diseases and cholera.

Update: The situation in Mozambique

Cyclone Chido hit Mozambique on Sunday 15 December, causing havoc across northern parts of the country. Mozambique is very vulnerable to the climate emergency and suffers from the impact of cyclones in this season.

According to initial estimates by authorities, the storm has affected tens of thousands of people and has so far killed dozens.

• An MSF emergency team has conducted assessments in Cabo Delgado province, where we were already present responding to the ongoing conflict. We have so far donated 50 emergency supply kits to the Ministry of Health.
   
• We have identified several healthcare centres that have suffered significant damage and need logistical support for rehabilitation.
   
• MSF is concerned about the impact that this natural disaster has had on people’s access to clean drinking water and is coordinating with the local authorities to step up the response if needed.