Families and children in Northern Madagascar are preparing for the life-threatening impact of Tropical Storm Dikeledi, as fears grow over severe winds, torrential rainfall, and widespread flooding. The storm has already prompted extensive evacuations, according to Save the Children.
The meteorological department reported heavy rainfall in Northern Madagascar over the past 24 hours, with forecasts predicting even more intense rain, strong winds, and storm surges to batter the region starting January 11. The storm is expected to bring devastating consequences, marking the second major tropical cyclone of the season to strike southern Africa.
Madagascar’s Vulnerability to Extreme Weather
In December 2023, Madagascar narrowly avoided the worst effects of Tropical Storm Chido, which claimed 39 lives and caused severe damage in Mayotte, a French overseas territory. However, Tropical Storm Dikeledi is poised to hit Madagascar directly, raising serious concerns about its potential devastation.
Save the Children emphasized that such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to the climate crisis. The organization has called for urgent action, highlighting the need for increased climate funding from higher-income countries to help vulnerable nations like Madagascar cope with escalating climate impacts.
Children Face Displacement and Danger
Tatiana Dasysaid, Save the Children’s Country Representative for Madagascar, expressed deep concern for the safety and well-being of over 22,500 children living in areas projected to be hardest hit by the storm:
“We are extremely concerned that more than 22,500 children in the cyclone’s path are at risk of being displaced, losing their homes and schools, or facing life-threatening injuries from falling debris or floods.
“From past experiences, we know that cyclones like this cause extensive damage to homes and critical infrastructure, including schools and hospitals. Additionally, heavy downpours of up to 100 mm in the northern regions over the next 48 hours could trigger massive flooding, displacing more people and creating a potential humanitarian crisis.”
Preparedness and Call for Aid
Save the Children has taken proactive measures, including pre-positioning school supplies in the Sava region and enhancing community preparedness, particularly at the school level, to mitigate the storm’s impact. The organization is also ready to assist with impact assessments and provide support to affected families and children in the region.
Immediate rescue operations and humanitarian aid are critical to save lives as thousands face the storm’s destructive path. Save the Children has reiterated its call for higher-income countries to increase funding for climate resilience, as lower-income nations bear the brunt of climate change’s devastating effects.
Save the Children’s Efforts in Madagascar
Since 2016, Save the Children has been actively working in Madagascar, focusing on cash-based assistance, child protection, and disaster response. The organization has responded to numerous humanitarian crises, including droughts and cyclones, and reached over 12,700 children in 2024 alone.
Tropical Storm Dikeledi underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts to address climate change, bolster disaster preparedness, and provide immediate aid to vulnerable populations.
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