Faced with aid arriving in trickles, the inhabitants of Mayotte are growing impatient the day after the departure of Emmanuel Macron who noted the immensity of the needs of the archipelago devastated by cyclone Chido. The population still lacks water, food but also gasoline so that long queues form around service stations.
2 mins
With our special correspondents in Mamoudzou, Nicolas Feldmann and Jad el Khoury
HAS Mayottethe line of cars on the shoulder stretches for several kilometers. Soulaimana has been patient since the day before to refuel. “ We’ve been here for over 20 hours. And our vehicles are still behind. I find it difficult to understand this situation when we know that we are on an island where we still have Total, which has a monopoly on the island. They could still have made a little effort », deplores Soulaimana.
The lack of gasoline affects the entire population. Very close to the pump, around thirty people are waiting with cans. “ We are going to put gasoline in an engine for the electric generator. We no longer have a freezer. Food will rot. That’s why we came to get gasoline. Two minutes ago they told us that we could take 30 liters of gasoline but no more “, explains this Mahoraise.
Also readCyclone Chido in Mayotte: uncertainty remains over the death toll
Gasoline, a rare commodity
The police distribute motorists with a line on the side reserved for priority vehicles: police, gendarmerie, nurses, prison officers, etc. This is also the case for agents of the water company, the Société Mahoraise des Eaux.
Gasoline, like all in Mayotte is a rare commodity. If fuel prices have been blocked by the State, on the black market, a liter can be sold for three to four times more.