SADC Responds to Madagascar’s Cyclone Crisis with Emergency Deployment

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has sent its Emergency Response Team (ERT) to Madagascar as the island nation grapples with the aftermath of two destructive tropical cyclones in less than three weeks.

The deployment aims to reinforce government-led relief efforts after Cyclones FYTIA and Gezani caused widespread devastation across several regions. Cyclone FYTIA struck on 31 January, followed by Cyclone Gezani on 10 February, intensifying an already critical humanitarian situation.

The storms have left hundreds dead, displaced thousands, and caused significant damage to infrastructure and essential services. According to SADC, over 270,000 people across 18 districts in five regions have been affected.

The ERT mission, scheduled to operate in Madagascar from 16 to 28 February, forms part of SADC’s disaster-response framework, which is activated when member states face emergencies that exceed national capacity.

The team is working alongside international partners including MapAction, Rescue South Africa, and the World Food Programme to provide technical support in emergency coordination, search and rescue, geospatial mapping, situation monitoring, and the formulation of a regional humanitarian appeal.

At a broader level, SADC’s Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre is coordinating closely with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and national authorities to strengthen the overall response and ensure aid reaches those most in need.

Officials say the mission seeks to enhance situational awareness, identify priority needs, and streamline the delivery of assistance in line with regional solidarity commitments.

The successive cyclones highlight Madagascar’s increasing vulnerability to extreme weather events, which have become more frequent and severe in recent years. SADC’s intervention represents one of the bloc’s largest regional disaster deployments since it reinforced its disaster-management mechanisms.