On February 22nd, tropical cyclone Haruna hit the SW coast of Madagascar, killing more than 24 people and leaving over 23,000 in desperate need of help. Thousands of people are struggling to survive without shelter, food, or safe water.
Our Malagasy partners, Jonoro and Hanitra have their home base on the outskirts of Toliara – a coastal city that took a direct hit from the cyclone. Jonoro’s house was half destroyed, leaving the other half unstable. Many others in the area lost their homes and all their possessions – and now the people are fighting sickness in the storm’s aftermath.
But it is in the remote village of Anjabetrongo on the edge of the Mikea forest that the effects of the storm are being most deeply felt. This is the village where Ancient Path has been working alongside the Jonoros since 2003 – and where we have started and supported a school that now has 167 registered children.
The road from Toliara to Anjabetrongo has been impassable due to a damaged bridge, but a flight survey after the storm showed that most of the crops in the area have been wiped out and the houses destroyed.
Desperate villagers walked for days to reach Jonoro in Toliara with news. They report that there is no food in the village and hunger is widespread. The school sustained structural damage and all of the children’s textbooks and school supplies were lost when their houses were damaged or destroyed.
The situation is even worse for Fandahara’s family and the Mikea people who live deeper in the forest.
Life is always hard there – but now the situation is desperate.
Will you help us help them? Here are some ways you can get involved:
- Pray – for all of those impacted by this devastating storm. Especially the people of Anjabetrongo, the Mikea tribe – and the Jonoros as they work to bring relief and hope.
- Raise awareness – share this story with your friends. Few events in Madagascar ever receive international news coverage and the devastation caused by cyclone Haruna is no exception.
- Give – 100% of any donation to Ancient Path for Madagascar Cyclone Relief will go directly to help the storm victims, provide emergency food rations and replace the children’s school supplies.
To donate online click here
You can also mail us a check. Just make it out to Ancient Path and specify that it’s for Madagascar Cyclone Relief. Our mailing address is:
Ancient Path
P.O. Box 38045
Olmsted Falls, Ohio
44138
The bridge on the road to Anjabetrongo has just been repaired this week making it possible for Jonoro and Hanitra to get emergency supplies into Anjabetrongo. When they are able to send us updates and photos, we will pass them on to you. Here is a gallery of photos from Jonoro showing the damage in Toliara and the surrounding area…
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