Madagascar: our teams prepare for cyclone Freddy

Our teams on the ground in eastern Madagascar are preparing for extreme winds and significant flooding this week as the first 2023 category 5 storm in the world approaches.

The situation as of 22/02/2023 18:00:

Several of our Malagasy staff members and health partners are rebuilding after severe damage to their homes. Thankfully all staff members have been accounted for and there are no reported injuries among them.The team from the Nosy-Varika project (me included) are back at the MSF base after two nights of hibernation at an MSF clinic in a rural commune called Ambodiriana. Our teams are assessing the situation in different locations across the areas affected and are preparing to respond as needed.

Before the cyclone hit we had a young woman called Soa arrive at the clinic where we were hibernating. She gave birth within five minutes of arrival, with the help of our MSF Nurse Manager Titi. Mother Soa and her healthy baby boy are doing well.

The situation as of 20/02/2023 18:00:

• It's predicted that by landfall late Tuesday, wind speeds will have reached around 200km/h causing destruction to a community already struggling to recover from deadly cyclones that hammered the country last year leading to widespread food insecurity.

• Madagascar remains one of the countries at most at risk from climate change and is severely affected by extreme weather events. Our teams delivering lifesaving care in eastern and southern Madagascar are increasingly concerned with how communities will cope in the aftermath of these severe climate shocks.

• MSF has been responding to alarming malnutrition levels in areas where people lost their harvest, food stocks and source of income after last years’ cyclones.