Regional Team: SWAN
Disaster Declared: 03/23/2007
Description: Between December 2006 and March 2007, five successive tropical storms and cyclones hit Madagascar, including Bondo in December, Clovis in January, and Gamede and Favio in February. On March 15, Tropical Cyclone Indlala struck Madagascar's northeastern coast in Antalaha District with winds up to 165 km/h, killing 21 people and affecting more than 23,000 others. Rainfall from the storms led to widespread flooding, damaging infrastructure, destroying crops, and threatening local food security. In response to the storms, the Malagasy National Office for Disaster Management and Preparedness provided affected populations with emergency relief supplies, including food, plastic sheeting, and tents. Effective early warning and alert systems minimized the casualties from the storms; however, the consecutive cyclones and extensive flooding depleted local and national response resources, leading the Government of Madagascar to request international assistance. From March 14 to 21, a USAID assessment team visited affected regions in Madagascar to evaluate the damage from Cyclone Indlala and previous storms.
On March 23, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Henderson M. Patrick declared a disaster due to widespread flooding from Cyclone Indlala. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 to implementing partner CARE to restore ground access to isolated regions and provide emergency relief supplies to affected populations. USAID/OFDA allocated an additional $50,000 to the U.N. World Food Program to improve logistical capacity and transport food assistance to remote communities affected by the cyclones.