France Begins Repatriating Comorians from Cyclone-Hit Mayotte
People affected by Cyclone Chido in Mayotte, Dec. 2024. X/ @Ladelf
December 26, 2024 Hour: 9:17 am
The French government requisitioned two vessels from the Societe de Gestion et de Transport Maritime.
On Thursday, the public broadcaster Mayotte la 1ère reported that France has begun repatriating hundreds of Comorians from the French department of Mayotte, which was devastated by Cyclone Chido.
RELATED:
The Situation in Mayotte is Going From Bad to Worse, A Resident Says
Authorities have arranged boats to facilitate travel for those without financial resources. For undocumented individuals, their departure will be permanent. The first trips took place on Wednesday, heading toward the Comorian island of Anjouan, also known as Nzwani.
“All Comorian citizens, regardless of their status or financial resources, will be able to return to their country,” announced the Mayotte prefecture.
To establish this maritime link, the French government requisitioned two vessels from the Societe de Gestion et de Transport Maritime (SGTM), a company that regularly operates these routes. The purpose of this measure is to provide alternatives for the migrant population in precarious situations, given the ongoing emergency in the French archipelago, whose reconstruction is expected to take years.
It is estimated that half of the 320,000 inhabitants of Mayotte are undocumented immigrants, which represents a source of tension due to the strain on public services. Many live in makeshift settlements that were destroyed by Cyclone Chido.
Among those being repatriated, individuals with valid residence permits for the French overseas territory will be allowed to return freely once regular maritime connections are restored. However, the return will be permanent for those in an irregular situation.
The official death toll currently stands at 39, and authorities do not anticipate significant increases, far below the hundreds of casualties initially feared.
Nevertheless, recovery efforts continue on the ground. Local authorities have noted that many victims may have been buried almost immediately for religious reasons, complicating the count.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
