Solidarity with Mayotte: "Six months after the cyclone, the challenge is to join forces to rebuild for the long term"
Dominique Boyer is chairman of the Solidarité Mayotte Committee of the Fondation de France. Comprising nine volunteer experts, this committee was established in the first few days after Cyclone Chido to assess priority needs, liaise with local stakeholders and review requests for support. Dominique Boyer was a schools inspector when Hurricane Irma hit Saint-Martin in 2017 and has also lived on Reunion Island, in Guadeloupe and in Polynesia, and is very familiar with the issues specific to the French overseas territories.
What is the situation in Mayotte six months after the cyclone hit?
The situation remains very difficult and there are great needs in all areas: education, health, housing, agriculture, etc. Today, the vast majority of pupils have not returned to school as normal. Access to water remains a major problem. The situation, which was already poor before the cyclone, has worsened since. The rapidly spreading chikungunya epidemic illustrates the persistent health problems facing Mayotte. The natural environment has been severely damaged, and access roads are in very poor condition. Many trees - often precious species - have fallen.
We have visited Mayotte several times since December to assess the extent of the damage and needs, to gain a better understanding of the situation experienced by the Mahorais, and to coordinate with local stakeholders in order to provide effective and sustainable aid. Despite the ordeal, the local people continue to mobilise. Since the launch of our Solidarité Mayotte operation, we have received hundreds of requests for support from local associations.
What are the Fondation de France's priorities today?
The first priority was to meet basic needs, in particular providing water and food. Today, the food situation is less critical. This allows us to envisage longer-term actions, even if we are continuing to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable and isolated people, such as women, children and the elderly.
We are now entering a phase of reconstruction, which naturally involves a large number of housing-related actions: making homes safe, repairing them, supporting discussions on new construction, etc. The Fondation de France's action is aimed at sustainable reconstruction that respects the environment, in cooperation with public, private and voluntary organisations.
Medical and psychological support, which is still very inadequate, is another of our priorities, as is support for educational initiatives. We are also focusing on economic recovery, particularly in agriculture, which is essential to guarantee food self-sufficiency.
How do the various organisations involved work together?
The solidarity between associations in Mayotte is remarkable. Many associations mobilised quickly, but a great deal of coordination is needed to prevent efforts from being dispersed. The aim is to unite forces around common projects and to structure networks, whether this involves pooling agricultural initiatives or strengthening links between educational, sports and health associations.
We have focused on dialogue, building trust and establishing shared working practices. During our field missions, we meet with many stakeholders to help them structure their projects realistically, addressing the most pressing needs. This close working relationship is essential: as the months go by, relationships develop and the collaboration become more effective. This involves rigorous monitoring, with regular reviews, field audits, etc. The aim is to provide a tailored, flexible response that can evolve as needs change.
READ FURTHER
→ Solidarity with Mayotte: 6 months of actions
→ Solidarity with Mayotte: “Three Months After the Disaster, the Situation Remains Critical”
→ Solidarity with Mayotte: 3 months of support
→ Solidarity with Mayotte: Two Months Supporting Communities Hit After Cyclone Chido
→ Solidarity with Mayotte: Cyclone Recovery Efforts One Month On
→ Emergencies: rebuilding lives over the long term