The National Office of Risk and Disaster Management, which is counting losses in the hardest-hit areas, especially on the eastern coast of the island in the Indian Ocean, made this new toll on Wednesday afternoon.
Among these victims, 71 people were killed in the Ekongo region (east), according to Agence France-Presse.
The country has counted more than 112,000 affected and about 61 thousand displaced people, while non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies have begun to deploy capabilities and teams to help the victims of these heavy rains and strong winds.
Tropical cyclone “Batsirai” hit Madagascar, on Saturday night – Sunday, and affected an agricultural coastal area extending for a length of 150 km, and sparsely populated, before heading west into the island, causing floods in rivers that destroyed the rice fields of Madagascar’s “reservoir”, which raises fears. of the deteriorating humanitarian situation.
“Rice fields have been damaged and crops lost. It is the main agriculture of the people of Madagascar and their food security will be massively affected in the next three to six months unless we act immediately,” said Pasqualina Desirio, director of the World Food Program in the country.
The UN agency distributed hot meals, especially in Manakara, one of the worst-affected areas.
In addition to government aid, several NGOs, including Action Against Hunger, Handicap International, Save the Children and Doctors of the World, distributed household items, food and hygiene products.
