While the situation in Mayotte is catastrophic, a mobilization was organized in Marseille by associations of Mahorais and various left-wing political parties this Saturday afternoon, December 21. A gathering with little attendance, but the people of Marseillais still show solidarity.
2 mins
With our correspondent in Marseille, Leopold Picot
At the foot of the Porte d’Aix, the Arc de Triomphe of Marseille, barely two hundred people were mobilized in support of Mayottedevastated by Cyclone Chido. We can see some flags of Mayotte, La France Insoumise (LFI) and the Socialist Party (PS) and some traditional Mahorese clothing. For Zalia, from Marseille and from Mahor, this lack of interest is symptomatic in France metropolitan: “ You have lots of people who don’t even know Mayotte even though it has been part of France for a long time. They have only just discovered it in relation to the cyclone. There, in fact, I would really like us to see Mayotte, that it exists, that it is part of France, that we are French, and that we should have the same rights as everywhere in France! »
For Asma, coming to the gathering remains important despite everything, a way to find support in the largest Mahorese and Comorian community in the metropolis. “ We come to support the cause, we have brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts who are currently experiencing this tragedy. We want to be heard, we want people, politicians, to take their responsibilities. I think that the basic needs, in fact, must be met first, and then look at the problems that have not been resolved for several years. That’s in a second phase », recalls the young Marseille native of Comorian and Mahoran origin.
Another solidarity is organized
Fortunately, the people of Marseillais are mobilizing in ways other than rallies; already six trucks with foodstuffs and food have been filled thanks to donations from citizens. Tahamida, a Mahoraise involved in collecting donations, assures us: solidarity is getting underway in the Marseille city: “ We harvested a lot of food, we were sorting everything clothing, but not only that, we also received food, there were a lot of packs of water that were put in the pallets. »
The town hall has for its part released emergency aid of 50,000 euros, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region intends to provide a national emergency fund for the affected department.
Also readMayotte: the island facing a shortage of water and fuel after the passage of Cyclone Chido
Less than 200 people in Marseille, for a rally in support of Mayotte, a Mayotte woman regrets: “it’s sad that there is so little interest in a French department”
— Léopold Picot (@leopoldpicot.bsky.social) December 21, 2024 at 5:02 p.m.