Solidarity with Mayotte: Two Months Supporting Communities Hit After Cyclone Chido
Two months after the devastating passage of Cyclone Chido over the Mayotte archipelago on 14 December, the humanitarian situation remains critical, and the needs are immense. Fondation de France has already allocated €4.4 million to support 42 initiatives led by local and national organisations to assist affected communities.
In response to the humanitarian emergency, Fondation de France continues to support essential relief efforts, including food aid, access to drinking water, and the distribution of hygiene kits. These initiatives are implemented by local organisations:
- Haki Za Wanatsa – Collectif CIDE Mayotte is helping the island’s most vulnerable populations by distributing food vouchers and school supplies. The collective also runs awareness and detection campaigns on violence against women and children, offering a support and assistance network for victims.
- Kaja Kaona provides emergency assistance to 300 affected households in the southern sector of Mamoudzou, including food aid and the distribution of essential supplies such as jerrycans, basins, salt, oil, water purification tablets, toothbrushes, toothpaste, laundry detergent, soap, diapers, and bottled water.
- Nyora Za Tseso provides food aid to 60 residents in the village of Tsoundzou 1 who are living in extreme hardship. The association delivers daily meal baskets to different neighborhoods and provides home deliveries for those unable to travel.
Improving Access to Healthcare and Psychological Support
To provide medical and psychological support for affected populations, Fondation de France is funding several organisations that offer tailored care for the most vulnerable. Supported initiatives include:
- Terra Psy , a specialist in psychological support for vulnerable individuals, particularly children, has set up counselling centers in three secondary schools as well as in several primary and secondary schools. Psychologists and social workers provide assistance, while teachers and school nurses receive training to recognize mental health issues in students and refer them to the appropriate services. Additionally, two mobile mental health teams accompany outreach organisations, offering group therapy sessions and individual support. “After just a few days of psychological support, the children show remarkable progress. They run to us for a hug, express their emotions more easily, and tell us they sleep better,” shares a psychologist from the organisation.
- Oppelia , in partnership with RIAM (Mayotte’s inter-associative network), is deploying a multidisciplinary mobile unit with two specialized vehicles to reach the most vulnerable populations. The initiative, planned over three years, provides medical consultations, screenings, gynecological care, and psychosocial support. A psychological support unit has also been set up to assist both service users and staff at Oppelia and its partner organisations.
- Ja na tseso Za Wana supports the essential needs of hospitalized children and newborns whose families are in extreme poverty. It supplies hygiene products (soap, nappies), clothing, school materials, and toys, while also organizing recreational activities in hospital wards.
“After just a few days of psychological support, the children show remarkable progress. They run to us for a hug, express their emotions more easily, and tell us they sleep better.”
— A psychologist from Terra Psy
Supporting Children and Their Families
Children are among those most affected by the cyclone’s aftermath. Fondation de France supports local initiatives that provide educational, social, and cultural support to help maintain stability in their lives, including:
- Mayotte’s local mission supports young people in their social and professional integration, reaching 1,000 individuals aged 16 to 25, primarily from priority urban areas. Two dedicated buses travel to rural parts of the island, offering career guidance, administrative assistance, and social support. The initiative also distributes basic necessities such as soap, toothpaste, diapers, water, and clothing. Social and cultural activities are organized to help alleviate post-cyclone stress, including the production of a documentary highlighting young people's experiences of Cyclone Chido.
- The Federation of Vahibé Associations provides food aid, hygiene kits, and drinking water to 500 families living in extreme poverty. It also equips households with solar batteries and offers sports and cultural activities to help mitigate trauma.
- La Cité d’Or, operating in the village of Combani, works to combat youth isolation by providing a welcoming space for young people. A dedicated center hosts cultural, educational, and sports activities, while outdoor events foster social cohesion and personal development.
Providing Shelter and Securing Housing
Following the cyclone, a significant proportion of the island’s precarious living structures—representing 40% of Mayotte’s housing—was completely destroyed. To address this unprecedented crisis, Fondation de France is supporting various organisations dedicated to securing and rebuilding housing, including:
- The Mayotte Council for Architecture, Urbanism, and the Environment (CAUE) assists individuals wishing to repair or rebuild their homes by providing guidance on architectural quality and sustainable construction. Four additional architect-lawyer teams are being deployed to assess damage and provide advice on resilient reconstruction.
- Actes & Cités , based in Mahabourini in the Kaweni district—home to 1,500 people—helps residents secure their homes to mitigate risks associated with substandard housing. Outreach activities identify needs, raise awareness of dangers, and propose suitable solutions. Following an assessment of urgent repair requirements, the organisation will carry out structural reinforcement work alongside educational workshops on safer, more sustainable building techniques.
From 19 to 25 January, Karine Meaux and Clémence Allirot from Fondation de France’s Emergency Response Unit, accompanied by Jacques Desproges, a member of the Solidarité Mayotte committee, conducted a field mission in collaboration with Les Compagnons Bâtisseurs.
The objective of this second mission to the archipelago was to assess housing and environmental needs. Meetings took place with several organisations specializing in housing and reconstruction, such as Architectes de l’Urgence, Likoli Dago, Soliha, and CAUE. Additionally, a meeting at the Departmental Council helped coordinate efforts to provide emergency shelter, repair damaged buildings, and rehabilitate existing structures. This work is being carried out in consultation with relevant state agencies, local officials, NGOs, and construction professionals.
Donations to support recovery in Mayotte can be made to:
Fondation de France – Solidarité Mayotte
60509 Chantilly Cedex, France
TO FIND OUT MORE
→ Solidarity with Mayotte: Cyclone Recovery Efforts One Month On
→ Emergencies: rebuilding lives over the long term