Please continue to pray for Madagascar as another possible cyclone nears the country. This is expected to hit the already cyclone-ravaged east coast of Madagascar on Tuesday morning.
An estimated 270,900 people need assistance in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Batsirai which hit Madagascar on 5th February. Around 21,000 people are still displaced, and 20,500 homes have been destroyed, flooded, or damaged.
Tropical Storm Dumako hit the north-east coast on 15th February, directly affecting at least 5,100 people.
Now the Government and humanitarian partners are closely following the evolution of a new weather system—Tropical Storm Emnati. Although Emnati’s trajectory and potential impact are still uncertain, it is continuing to intensify and could reach the stage of a Tropical Cyclone or Intense Tropical Cyclone ahead of landfall, according to MeteoFrance. See https://reliefweb.int/report/madagascar/southern-africa-cyclone-season-flash-update-no-7-17-february-2022 for more information.
Thank you for your prayers for Madagascar. We have heard news from various parts of the country.
Madagascar as a whole
Rev. Berthier Lainirina, Provincial Secretary of the Anglican Church of Indian Ocean, reports that Cyclone Batsirai has gone, leaving Madagascar with disasters. It entered Madagascar at Mananjary on the east coast affecting the provinces of Toamasina and Fianarantsoa. High winds and heavy rainfall caused flooding and damage to buildings, roads and bridges in eastern, central and southern regions. Communications, power and water supplies are disrupted in affected areas.
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.”
Gaston opened a new church in Antomba, Ambovombe on Saturday. Thanks be to God for the continued growth of the Church even with the threat of the cyclone hanging over the country.
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.
A single mother feeds her 4 children – photo courtesy of Bishop Gilbert
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.”
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.
Today there were distributions of 50 sacks of rice through the Anglican Church in Beabo, Ambovombe, and a further distribution of 50 sacks through the Church at Beloha. Each distribution will feed 60 families.
Rice sacks at Beloha
At Beloha Church
Distribution of rice in Beloha,
Dean Donne brought the rice from Fort Dauphin.
Thanks be to God for the generosity of the friends who donated the money for this.
The UN’s World Food Programme expects that three consecutive years of drought and a recession, triggered by the Coronavirus pandemic, will leave more than 1.3 million people suffering from food insecurity.
Click photo to watch the BBC video on famine in Toliara
Many thanks to all the individuals and organisations who have sent funds to the Diocese for Famine Relief. They will provide food and water for many, and we will continue to keep you updated as distributions are made. The famine has created a serious rural exodus and migration to the bigger towns of Fort Dauphin and Toliara. People have been forced to leave their homelands by the lack of water and food.
In December, rice distributions were made in four southern Parishes that were in particular need: Amboasary, Andranovory, Betioky and Toliara.
FAMINE RELIEF REPORT – DECEMBER 2020 ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF TOLIARA, MADAGASCAR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
There are four parishes affected by this famine in 2020:
1. Andranohinaly (Toliara Parish)
Activity: distribution of clean drinking water Quantity: 25,000 liters Overall goal: 25,000 liters of water supply: 5000 liters per visit every 5 days Specific goal: 20 liters / person Number of beneficiaries: 1250 people (All people in village, not just Christians)
2. Andranovory (Andranovory Parish)
Activity: distribution of clean drinking water Quantity: 25,000 liters Overall goal: 25,000 liters of water supply: 5000 liters per visit every 5 days Specific goal: 20 liters / person Number of beneficiaries: 1250 people (All people in village, not just Christians)
General problem: On the second visit, the Committee and the Priest found that there was less than 3800 liters of water in the system.
Solution: Mr. Ialy (Diocesan Economic Development Coordinator) and the business owner (Mr. Mourad) consulted and decided to fill in the holes before using the 16,000-liter water tank. Evangelist Dacise reported that this was completed on Saturday, December 19, 2020.
3. Ampanihy (Betioky Parish)
Work: rice distribution Size: 2650 kg (53 bags) General purpose: rice supply for famine-struck families Specific goal: 5kg / family Results: 530 families benefited from the 5kg / family Executive: Church Committee and Evangelist and Mr. Ialy (Diocesan Economic Development Coordinator) Equipment of work: cart
Work: rice distribution Size: 5250kg (105 bags) General purpose: rice supply for famine-struck families Specific target: 2.6kg / person Results: 2,000 people benefited from the 2.6kg per person Executive: Church and Deacons Committee, Ward Presbyter, and Mr. Ialy (Diocesan Economic Development Coordinator) Performance equipment: 4×4 wheel drive
Last month, WFP conducted an assessment in Amboasary, the hardest-hit district, which revealed that three-quarters of children were forced to drop out of school so they could help their families forage for food.
“Most of the women that we spoke to said they had nothing to feed their young children except the red cactus pears that grow on the roadside”, said Mr. Phiri.
