Thank you for your prayers for Madagascar. We have heard news from various parts of the country.

Madagascar as a whole

50 000 people have been displaced and 10 deaths counted up to now. Most of the people of those regions found their crops destroyed.

Within the Anglican Diocese of Toamasina, 4 churches were destroyed and some Christians lost their homes. In the Diocese of Fianarantsoa, the cyclone destroyed 45 churches, 6 schools, 13 Pastor’s houses, and one part of the wall of the Cathedral. Again most of the crops are destroyed. These are statistics as of Sunday 6th and might increase once all damages has been evaluated.

Johary, Canon Donné’s eldest son, now lives and works in his birthplace, Anosibe Anala (east of Antananarivo) and reports that there was just a little wind and small amount of rain, and by Saturday night the weather was already clear. He sent a photo of the valley which was badly flooded by Cyclone Ana, which now looks much better:

Within the Diocese of Toliara

Rev. Berthier, living in the Cathedral Complex in Toliara town, tells us that the cyclone has brought helpful rain to Toliara and it is now cooler there.

Bishop Samy was able to go ahead with the confirmation service in St Luke’s, Ankilifaly, Toliara town today.

Canon Donné reports from Fort Dauphin – that the cyclone has not caused much destruction there – just small wind and rain.

Rev. Gaston in Ambovombe says “We are all fine, thank you so much. Here now there is rain and wind but not much. So it is bringing good for us in the Androy region. This rain is good for the crops of Androy, and it helps to increase the underground water levels too. We can also buy water more cheaply now, and some people don’t need to buy water because we can collect water from the roof in the blue water tanks.”

Rev Nolavy in Sakaraha tells us: “There is good rain now, and some strong wind, but no damage yet. It has been raining non-stop since yesterday till today.”

We ask that you kindly continue to pray for Madagascar and especially those regions which have been badly hit.

The island nation of Madagascar, already reeling from flooding rains from Tropical Storm Ana on January 22 and a devastating drought in southern parts of the nation, is bracing for the expected arrival of Tropical Cyclone Batsirai on Saturday.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts that Batsirai will continue tracking west-southwest and gradually weaken, making landfall in east-central Madagascar around 12Z (3 p.m. local time) Saturday, February 5, as a category 2 storm. The coast there is moderately populated, and damage from storm surge and wind is likely to be extensive. However, the biggest concern from Batsirai will be its widespread rains of 8-16” expected to affect a populated area. Batsari’s heavy rain area may end up just south of the most heavily populated city in the country, the capital of Antananarivo, but the nation’s third-largest city, Antsirabe (population 250,000) will likely get rains in excess of 10 inches.

Unfortunately, Batsirai’s rains will mostly miss  the Diocese of Toliara in, southern Madagascar, where a multiyear drought has 1.6 million people at high levels of acute food insecurity.

Remembering how Jesus calmed the storm when out in the boat with the disciples, please continue to pray for Tropical Cyclone Batsirai to weaken before hitting Madagascar – and pray for rain to fall in the south where crops are growing nicely but need water to survive.

Many areas around the world are experiencing more turbulent weather than they are accustomed to dealing with. This is especially challenging for the poor.

Last week, Cyclone Ana hit central Madagascar, including the capital Antananarivo, on its way to mainland Africa, causing severe flooding and a river to break its banks. At least 48 were killed and 130,000 people have been forced to flee their homes to makeshift shelters. Johary, Rev. Canon Donné’s eldest son, sent this photo from Anosibe Anala where he now lives and works:

He says “The house where I live is at the top of the hill, so I think my family and I are safe but the other people down there need much prayer. There are some houses that we can’t see anymore, the cultivated areas are really destroyed, as are all the bridges from here to the the town where we import some of our needs like oil, salt, rice. So we know that prices will go up and some people will fall into famine.”

News reports indicate that there are fears that a second cyclone (Tropical Cyclone Batsirai) will hit the east coast of Madagascar this coming weekend. You can monitor the progress of approaching storms on the METEO Madagascar website

The Diocese of Toliara is several hundred miles south of the capital. Bishop Samy tells us that  it was 110 degrees F (43 degrees C) on Sunday and Monday in Toliara.  The heat is suffocating and burning in the south west particularly Toliara, Andranovory, Betioky and Ampanihy.   There is serious famine in Betioky.

It is crucial that this rainy season delivers adequate rain to prevent a return to drought-induced famine and to allow crops to grow, without there being so much rain that damage is done.

Please remember all these situations and the people of Madagascar in your prayers

On Thanksgiving Day here in America, may we join with the Malagasy in giving thanks for the recent rain in Ambovombe in the last week or so, but understandably grateful as they are to have water they are sad to only have this dirty water to drink.

Bishop Samitiana reports from Morondava that they have just had their first rain since 2019, while they were praying in All Saint’s Church, Morondava. Praise God!

The Archdeacon’s wife, Neny Oliviah, reports that it has also rained at the Cathedral Complex. The first rain of the season in Toliara town.

Please join in praying for this to be a good rainy season in Madagascar, filling the rivers and streams, and raising underground water levels.

As the the COP26 global climate summit is about to start in Scotland,  Anglican Bishop Gilbert of Fianarantsoa (a neighboring Diocese of Toliara) says the island nation is suffering its worst famine in a generation, and urges the world to address climate change.

He warns that at least one million people may be at risk.

When he refers to the south of the country, he is talking about the Diocese of Toliara: “The situation south of the country is not good. Out of our 22 regions, it has been hit the hardest. Some crops have also been destroyed by bandits.”

Read more here

In responding to the current situation, Rakotondravelo believes the Body of Christ in Madagascar will do well not to live in isolation. Please join us in praying for the island of Madagascar as the people suffer this dreadful famine, and for the global climate summit.