Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Complex Emergency, 03-25-2009
Beginning in January 2009, violence resulting from a power struggle between the President of Madagascar and the opposition leader and former Antananarivo mayor killed more than 150 people and injured approximately 1,000 others. The political crisis also affected vulnerable urban populations through increased unemployment, rising food prices, and limited government support for public sanitation and social services. According to a preliminary assessment conducted by U.N. agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), more than 50,000 people in Antananarivo were laid off due to the deteriorating socio-economic situation. In addition, the Government of Madagascar’s National Office for Natural Disasters Preparedness reported that unseasonably poor rainfall has resulted in severe food insecurity in 31 communes in the Androy and Anosy regions of southern Madagascar. USAID implementing partners noted that households in affected areas were employing coping strategies, including selling livestock or other assets to purchase food.
On March 25, U.S. Ambassador R. Niels Marquardt declared a disaster due to the impact of the complex emergency. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through USAID/Madagascar to a joint group of U.N. agencies and NGOs to conduct an assessment of urban and rural food insecurity and determine if any additional humanitarian assistance is required. USAID/OFDA continued to monitor the situation in coordination with USAID/Madagascar, the U.S. Embassy in Antananarivo, and USAID’s Office of Food for Peace.
Additional Disaster Declaration:
Cyclone, 02-03-2009
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A beneficiary of an agricultural recovery program walks through her fields in Madagascar |
On January 20, 2009, Tropical Cyclone Fanele struck the west coast of Madagascar as a Category Three storm, with winds of more than 90 mph. Heavy rains and flooding damaged homes, infrastructure, and agriculture in the western, southwestern, and central regions of the country, particularly in Menabe Region. The cyclone affected approximately 40,400 people, displaced 4,000 individuals, and killed 10 others, according to the U.N and the Madagascar National Office for Natural Disasters Preparedness. In addition, U.S. Embassy staff report that the storm damaged 3,000 hectares of agricultural land and disrupted the ground transportation network in many communities throughout the affected areas.
On February 3, 2009, U.S. Ambassador R. Niels Marquardt declared a disaster due to the effects of the cyclone. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $30,000 through USAID/Madagascar to CARE International for the distribution of USAID/OFDA-supplied plastic sheeting
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