The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Malagasy Red Cross have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen their capacity to plan for, prepare for, and respond to cyclones and floods in Madagascar.
Madagascar’s geographical location in the southwest Indian Ocean makes it one of the countries in the world most vulnerable to extreme weather events. To address these challenges, it is crucial to put in place anticipatory measures and rapid response strategies to mitigate the impact of tropical storms and cyclones.
WFP’s partnership with the Madagascar Red Cross ensures an integrated package of activities to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to violent and destructive storms:
- Anticipatory actions: distribution of food before the cyclone makes landfall
- Pre-positioning of food stocks in cyclone/flood-prone areas for rapid response
- Emergency response within 72 hours of a cyclone: distribution of hot meals or high-energy biscuits
- Three-month post-cyclone assistance to address immediate and critical needs
“The choice of the Malagasy Red Cross as a strategic partner is justified by its network of volunteers working close to the communities in regions prone to natural hazards, enabling the organisation to play a key role in the rapid delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected populations,” said WFP Representative and acting Country Director in Madagascar Mamadou Mbaye. “The partnership complements WFP’s technical and operational expertise in food security, logistics, and humanitarian assistance.”
This integrated approach to emergency anticipation, preparedness, and response covers six cyclone and flood-prone regions of Madagascar: Sava, Diana, Sofia, Ambatosoa, Analanjirofo, and Atsinanana.
