UN seeks 6 million dollars for Madagascar as cyclone season looms

Nov 25, 2009, 10:38 GMT

Johannesburg - The United Nations on Wednesday appealed for 6 million dollars in donations for the island of Madagascar ahead of the annual cyclone season.

Each year, between January and March, the impoverished Indian Ocean island of around 13 million people is hit by a wave of cyclones that cause widespread flooding and destruction.

Over the last two years, the country was hit by five cyclones which left nearly 200,000 people without shelter and destroyed tens of thousands of hectares of farm land and hundreds of classrooms.

Several people die each year as a result of the cyclones.

This year, meteorologists forecast that four to five intense cyclones will strike the island and that up to 600,000 people could be affected, United Nations agencies working on the island said.

The UN is seeking donations in order to stockpile emergency supplies, including tarpaulins, medicines and water purification tablets, for cyclone victims.

'We urge the international community not to ignore the plight of the Malagasy people,' Christopher Peter Metcalf, the United Nations Resident Coordinator said.

Madagascar's capacity to respond to disasters has been severely hampered this year by the fallout of a coup.

Following weeks of street protests, former opposition leader Andry Rajoelina seized power in March from besieged president Marc Ravalomanana, whom he accused of authoritarianism.

The international community denounced the power grab and cut aid to the island.

After months of wrangling, the island's four main political movements have reached a deal allowing Rajoelina to remain on as interim president, as head of a transitional coalition government.