First Alert: WCK Relief Team en route to Mayotte after Cyclone Chido
World Central Kitchen’s Relief Team is on our way to Mayotte by way of Réunion Island to meet food and water needs after Cyclone Chido devastated the archipelago. This storm, which was the worst cyclone to hit the territory in 90 years, made landfall as a Category 4 cyclone and brought sustained winds of more than 136 mph (220 kph). Public infrastructure on Mayotte has been severely damaged or destroyed, including the airport and main hospital, electricity systems, and communications. The French Interior Ministry has confirmed 11 people have died and more than 250 have been injured, but local officials expect those numbers to increase exponentially.
Mayotte, a small French territory in the Indian Ocean, has a population of about 320,000 residents spread across two main islands and several smaller surrounding isles. It is the most densely populated and poorest French territory and many residents have lost everything in the storm, including their homes. WCK Relief Team members are en route to meet the communities’ needs for food and water, and will determine if more support is needed.
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