"What hits us the most in these days of Easter is the Malagasy people's deep faith; many confess and think that that the recent passing of the tropical storm Hubert is a punishment for their sins", says to MISNA father Alexandre Rafanomezantsoa, founder of the Rakama radio station, meaning Light of the East Catholic Radio (also meaning "your best friend" in the Malagasy language). "They have lost a lot because of the storm, yet they try to smile, and many participate in the singing and dancing of traditional songs at the Sunday mass", said the Lazarist missionary, speaking to MISNA from Vohipeno, the heart of a rice producing region, on the eastern coast that was devastated by strong winds and rain since March 11. It will be n Easter marked by hunger and the fear of the near future, says father Alexandre, among flooded plantations and homes to rebuild. "The Church - says the missionary - is supplying food aid to the populations, that is rice bags, a food item that we consume at breakfast, lunch and dinner, but which is also a support for the rebuilding of homes and such". Father Alexandre invites his fellow nationals to not loose courage and hopes for them "an improvement of the daily living conditions and a true reconciliation, which might overcome political rivalries and party interests". In the face of material difficulties, the missionary confides to MISNA of having re-discovered the true meaning of being a priest: "Our mission acquires sense staying alongside the people, suffering with them, helping them spiritually and materially". Thanks to Radio Rakama, founded in 2001, father Alexandre has managed to save many lives during the storm; the radio broadcast messages for the evacuation of the homes that are built along the river and the appeals to find refuge in the higher areas protected from flooding. In Antananarivo, father Luca Treglia, director of the Don Bosco Salesian radio, talked to MISNA about the political crisis, a crisis that continues "for sole economic interests and in disregard for the population, the first to be affected by the sanctions and the interruption in the flow of development aid". Father Treglia says that even in the past weeks, the climate in the capital was sufficiently calm: "the people are tired and they move ever less to respond to the politicians' causes. Let us hope that Easter might signal the start of a course that brings truth justice and reconciliation...and even democratic elections".

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