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HomeClimate ChangeFrance accused of neglecting climate threat to vulnerable Mayotte after Cyclone Chido

France accused of neglecting climate threat to vulnerable Mayotte after Cyclone Chido

“France’s Failure to Protect Mayotte from Cyclone Chido Sparks Outrage and Calls for Change”

Locals and experts are criticizing the French government for not doing enough to protect residents of its poor island territory, Mayotte, from extreme weather events like Cyclone Chido. The cyclone, which hit Mayotte on Saturday, caused widespread devastation, with high winds, heavy rain, and huge waves leading to a death toll that authorities fear could rise to over 1,000.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau described Mayotte as “totally devastated,” with about 70% of the population severely affected. The French Red Cross also noted the unimaginable damage caused by the cyclone. This event was the strongest to hit Mayotte in at least 90 years, fueled by warm Indian Ocean waters, according to the Météo-France weather service.

Experts have pointed out that failures to adapt to climate change have worsened the impact of the storm on Mayotte. The island’s fragile infrastructure, particularly the weak buildings in slums where many residents, including tens of thousands of undocumented migrants, live, were unable to withstand the storm’s force.

French President Emmanuel Macron, during a visit to Mayotte, defended the government’s response to the cyclone, stating that warnings were issued, and aid in the form of food and water was on its way. However, critics, including local officials and climate researchers, argue that the government’s preparations were inadequate.

Mayotte, despite being an overseas department of France, remains significantly poorer than the mainland and faces high rates of unemployment and crime. The territory’s vulnerability to climate change impacts, exacerbated by its status as part of France, has raised concerns about the lack of adequate support and resources for adaptation measures.

The French government has a special green fund to support projects in vulnerable regions, but Mayotte has not received significant funding for climate adaptation projects. The lack of expertise at the local level and the absence of a robust early warning system have also been highlighted as contributing factors to the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido.

Critics, including climate campaigners and researchers, have called for more attention and resources to be directed towards overseas territories like Mayotte to enhance their resilience to climate-related disasters. The failure to address these issues adequately could lead to further calls for independence or protests against the French government’s response to such crises.

President Macron has pledged to rebuild Mayotte’s infrastructure and homes in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, but the long-term implications of the government’s response to the disaster remain a point of contention among locals and experts.

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