Source: UN Country Team in Madagascar
Country: Madagascar
Highlights
- Tropical Cyclone Haruna made landfall over the south-west coast of Madagascar on 22 February as a powerful Category 2 Tropical Cyclone.
- Before hitting Madagascar, Haruna vacillated for seven days in the Mozambique Channel, bringing above-normal rainfall to the western coast of Madagascar. More than 230% of normal rainfall was recorded between 10 and 20 February over the districts of Morombe and Taolagnaro.
- Government and humanitarian partners had pre-deployed to areas at risk.
- Assessments are not yet possible due to weather conditions. Local airports are still closed (which is impeding aerial assessments) and roads inaccessible, as Haruna is still active over southern Madagascar; however, reports of significant damage to houses, public buildings and infrastructure are being received.
- Haruna is projected to weaken as it moves overland and exit south-western Madagascar on 23 February.
- As the south and south-western coasts of the country are not high-risk cyclone zones, prepositioned stock is very limited and humanitarian actors are reallocating non-food items from other areas. Only medicine; water, sanitation and health (WASH) supplies; non-food items and food meant for regular programs, was available in the affected areas.
- A multi-sectorial team composed of technical staff from Government, NGOs and UN agencies is scheduled to leave Antananarivo on Sunday 24 February.