The French island of Mayotte, battered by Cyclone Chido, now finds itself in a state of devastation, grappling with overwhelming destruction and painfully slow aid efforts. Thousands are left without water, electricity, or basic necessities, while the risk of famine and health crises looms over the island.
Outgoing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau didn’t mince words after visiting the scene, describing Mayotte as “totally devastated.” He warned that the destruction of agriculture, particularly banana plantations, could trigger widespread hunger. Meanwhile, the chairman of the departmental council echoed concerns about epidemics, adding that the situation was rapidly spiraling into a humanitarian catastrophe.
An air bridge has been set up with military planes shuttling supplies from mainland France to La Réunion, the only operational hub for aid delivery. However, the logistics are a nightmare—Mayotte’s commercial airport is down, and La Réunion sits over 1,400 kilometers away, nearly four hours by air. Compounding the challenge, stormy seas have ruled out maritime deliveries, leaving small aircraft as the only viable option. Reinforcements trickle in, but far too slowly for a community in dire need.
President Macron has declared a national day of mourning and plans to visit Mayotte alongside newly appointed Prime Minister François Bayrou. Yet, criticism has erupted over the government’s sluggish response. The provisional death toll has already hit 22, though with communication systems shattered, the full scale of the tragedy remains unknown.
Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National (RN) has seized the moment to voice support for Mayotte, condemning what they see as government neglect. MP Anchya Bamana is sounding the alarm: “Our compatriots who escaped this devastation are thirsty and hungry. This is a vital emergency!” While RN-run municipalities are mobilizing aid, local leaders acknowledge it’s a mere drop in the bucket compared to the island’s massive needs.
Bayrou, already under scrutiny for juggling his role as Prime Minister and mayor of Pau, added fuel to the fire by skipping an emergency council meeting in Paris to attend a town council session in Pau—using a presidential jet, no less. Though he joined the meeting virtually, politicians across the aisle criticized his choice. Far-left MP Clémence Guetté blasted him as an “illegitimate part-time prime minister,” while centre-right MP Thibault Bazin pointedly remarked, “Pau City Council could do without your presence this evening.”
The outgoing interior minister also underscored another pressing issue: illegal migration overwhelming the archipelago. “Mayotte cannot be rebuilt without dealing with the migration issue with the utmost determination,” Retailleau declared, urging for a national law to regain immigration control. His comments sparked backlash from the Left, who slammed them as “indecent.”
Meanwhile, locals, already battered by the storm, now fear violence and looting as desperation sets in. With resources scarce, survival hangs in the balance, and frustration grows over France’s slow and disjointed response to Mayotte’s plight.
