A week after the deadly passage of Cyclone Chido, emergency services are still hard at work in Mayotte to find the missing and restore water, electricity and communications. This Monday, December 23 is a day of national mourning. At 11 a.m. this morning, a minute of silence in memory of the victims of this cyclone was observed throughout France. The French government, however, is criticized from all sides, notably by insufficient aid and several controversies.
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The Prime Minister François Bayroustill busy composing his government, gathered the staff in the courtyard of Matignon to observe the minute of silence. This was held during the day of national mourning decreed by President Emmanuel Macron, so that “ the Mahorais feel surrounded by an entire country » (sic).
This minute of silence has the meaning of a communion in mourning. She has a sense of solidarity for all those who are going through a difficult time. It has the sense of a commitment so that the national community is present, to rebuild Mayotte and make the Mahorais feel surrounded by an entire country » (sic), said Prime Minister François Bayrou, at the end of this moment of contemplation.
The president Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron stood on the steps of the Élysée to observe this minute, while all flags were lowered to half-mast in France.
A tribute while the French state is criticized for its management of the disaster
Faced with national mourning in solidarity with Mayotte, this question arises: did the State correctly play its role in this catastrophe? Part of the political class strongly doubts it, starting with Estelle Youssoupha. For the MP from Mayotte, ten days after the disaster, not only does access to water and food remain extremely problematic, but also government communication. “ When the government talks about restoring water, it’s water with cuts, it’s still extremely serious », Estimated Estelle Youssoupha at the microphone of RFI.
The French State is also at fault with regard to the arrival of relief, affirmed the MP for Mayotte: “ Families have still not seen the shadow of first aid in some of the most remote areas. We continue to have people who have not seen a doctor and we hear this speech from the State here as if help were being deployed. »
“ We let people die »: These are very strong words from Jean Hugues Ratenond, left-wing deputy from Reunion Island. He denounces a human toll which remains desperately imprecise: “ The President of the Republic decrees national mourning, but what is this mourning based on? We have not recorded the victims, it is urgent to really put the means in place. »
The disaster would have been better managed if it had taken place in France, predicts the parliamentarian, who denounces double standards.
Solidarity and tribute to the victims from France
This day of national mourning is important and symbolic for the Mahorais of France, present during the tribute paid to Paris. “ Symbolically, it is important for all Mahorais », Estimates Faël, a Mahorais student who lives in Paris.
This day of mourning is a small step, but it will not be enough. Mayotte is 90% destroyed so it will take several years for the island to recover and more help will be needed.
A necessary and symbolic national tribute for the Mahorais of France
In the town of Saint-Denis, near Paris, around a hundred people also gathered this Monday in front of the town hall to show their solidarity with the victims of the cyclone.
In Saint-Denis, a minute of solidarity silence for Mayotte
And in Saint-Denis, as in many other French cities, a collection of food and hygiene products has started. Boxes, some already filled with food, but also school supplies, are ready to leave in containers towards Mayotte.
Also readIn Marseille, weak mobilization, but strong solidarity for stricken Mayotte
In Mamoudzou, a discreet tribute to the victims while the island faces shortages
More than 8,000 km from France, the prefect of Mayotte François-Xavier Bieuville chaired a tribute ceremony on Zakia Madi Square, in Mamoudzou. Around a hundred people were present to pay tribute to the victims, report our special correspondents in Mamoudzou, Nicolas Feldmann And Jad El Khoury. Among them: firefighters, gendarmes, police officers and all the agents responsible for restoring water and electricity. They paid tribute to the 35 officially recorded deaths, but also to all the victims who have suffered since the devastating passage of Cyclone Chido on December 14.
In this ordeal of unprecedented violence, said the prefect, the French are united, “ the days to come will be, as the previous ones were, difficult, but Mayotte will recover “.
In Mamoudzou, some residents were not even aware of this day. It must be remembered that communications are still very complicated on site. Only 35% of homes have electricity. And some residents wonder about this national mourning: is it really the priority when help is deemed insufficient on site?
Here, we still have no electricity, people sleep in the water, in the rain. This is truly a disaster, when will help arrive? So a minute of silence, yes, but help above all.
A pharmacist from Mamoudzou questions the benefit of national mourning
This Monday morning, the prefect of Mayotte also recalled the three priorities stated earlier by Emmanuel Macron concerning the island: protecting and rescuing the disaster victims, bringing water and food everywhere on the territory and finally, restoring the networks water, electricity and telecommunications. The time for reconstruction will not come until later, said the prefect.
In Mayotte, where almost the entire island is destroyed, 90% of homes no longer have roofs, and the nighttime curfew is still in force. Emmanuel Macron also promised a special law to “ rebuild Mayotte ” And ” end » to the slums, which could take two years, according to the new Prime Minister François Bayrou.
Also readMayotte: the island still facing a shortage of water and fuel after the passage of Cyclone Chido