After shaking Mauritius and Reunion Island, the intense tropical cyclone Batsirai hit the eastern coast of Madagascar with full force.

The effects (strong wind and incessant rain) began to be felt from the middle of Saturday 05 February on the northern coasts of the Vatovavy region.

Still, on Saturday at 9 pm local time, the eye (area and perimeter where are concentrated the most extreme conditions) has touched land between Nosy Varika and Mananjary.

As expected, the impact of tropical cyclone Batsirai on Madagascar was violent.

Between Nosy Varika and Mananjary, an area of 70km long, everything was devastated by devastating winds. The powerful cyclonic swell has eaten away at the coasts until it washed away a cemetery in Mahanoro, a town located 80km north of Nosy Varika.

The sea entered inland with a high level of waves of 10 m.

Finally, Batsirai caused heavy rainfall on a large part of the east coast and the southeast.

Houses were swept away, tin roofs were blown off as well as livestock which also perished. On the agricultural side, 80% of the rice fields and food crops were flooded and therefore suffered heavy losses.

In terms of infrastructure, roads have been cut because either trees have fallen to block traffic, or the waters have caused damage and holes on the road.

As a result, the official figures to date (February 11, 2022) have announced 120 deaths and considerable material losses. Nearly 80% of the village of Mananjary, as well as the Pangalana, were devastated.

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THE CEIM COMMUNITY

Concerning the CEIM, out of the 30 churches in this zone, 19 constructions composed essentially of wood were literally razed by the wind, except in Andonaka and Tanambao Berano. The observation is the same as in Mananjary.

As elsewhere, plantations were completely destroyed, domestic animals lost their lives, trees were uprooted and houses were badly damaged. Most of these houses are made of wood or bamboo, very light materials…

In the area where Pastor Eric is located (church of Analajanvidy, Mananjary), 17 houses are all destroyed. Some pictures so that we realize the gravity of what happened on the spot.

Brother Claris said: « I am 71 years old now, but I have never seen a cyclone as devastating as this one ».

STATISTICS OF LOCAL CHURCH MEMBERS AT THE PASSAGE OF CYCLONE BATSIRAI

                                                       FEBRUARY 05, 2022

LOCAL CHURCH	Number of families	Number of children	Nombre  of adults	TOTAL	VICTIMS
1         SALOMBO ANDARA	45	40	90	130	112
2         SAHASINDRA	49	49	97	146	131
3         MANAMBATANA	23	18	30	48	42
4         MAINTIMBATO	42	35	95	130	107
5         AMBOHITSARA	10	18	58	76	73
6         AMPIAKARANA	12	12	21	33	22
7         FENOARIVO AMBAHY	43	43	80	123	114
8         AMBAHY	48	68	82	150	107
9         AMPASIMANEVA	31	24	65	89	77
10      AMBODIARAMY	51	50	80	130	123
11      MAHAFEFIKY	16	07	25	32	24
12      ANALANOLONA	23	20	37	57	48
13      FENOARIVO  MBAJATO	42	40	71	121	75
14      AMPOAMANITRA	10	13	30	43	34
15      FOTAMAVO	32	20	50	70	51
16      ANTANIADY	20	22	40	62	44
17     NOSY-VARIKA	19	16	10	26	23
18     AMBALADARA	18	14	16	30	19
19    AMBOHIMIRITIKY	32	36	45	81	56
20    ANDONAKA	40	40	80	120	118
21    AMBINANISAKALEO	20	18	40	58	51
22    TANAMBAO BERANO	29	38	94	132	127
23    SAHANIKASA	21	38	56	94	88
24    ANDRANOTSINDRANO	22	15	48	63	53
25    IRONDRO	52			147	142
26    MANANJARY		27	36	63	60
27    MANERINERINA		72	65	137	102
TOTAL				2391	2023

The MEIM has established 5 priority points for action related to the Christians affected by the cyclone.
1/ Emergency food and basic necessities.
2 / Food support for the most vulnerable people: poor and pregnant women, widows and orphans, sick people without means of care, the poor.
3/ Repairing and building part of the destroyed houses for the servants of God and the affected families
4/ Limited financial and material contribution for the repair and construction of churches.
5/ Donation of agricultural seeds for the future harvest, source of family income.

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Please pray for the people and the CEIM community in this area.

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For those who wish to make donations, here are the bank details and cell phone number:
—> MEIM – BFV – SG Tuléar
Bank Code: 00008
Agency Code: 00710
Account number: 05004006712
Key Rib: 66
IBAN : MG4600008 00710 05004006712 66
SWIFT / BIC: BFAVMGMG

—> Mobile: MVola of the SG of MEIM, Pasteur Rosa
Tel : (+ 261) 34 95 885 60 ou 034 95 885 60

Please indicate: Don Batsirai

« « Thanks be to God for his ineffable gift! (2 Cor 9: 15) » (2 Cor 9 : 15).