ReliefWeb

ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR--The Adventist Development and Relief Agency is responding to flooding that affected more than half a million people on the island of Madagascar. The massive flooding caused by torrential rains from Cyclone Eline and tropical storm Gloria, the same storms that devastated Mozambique, washed away roads and caused landslides leaving vast areas of the island inaccessible.
On Friday, the United Nations World Food Programme appealed for helicopters to help distribute food and other relief supplies to isolated villages. Officials are also concerned that a cholera outbreak that claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people in the past year could be made worse by the flooding.

ADRA Madagascar was the first non-governmental organization to arrive in the town of Anosibe an=B9 Ala which is now inaccessible by road. Aerial video footage, taken by ADRA, shows the 70-kilometer road to the town has been cut off by landslides in more than 30 places, according to John Ravelomanantsoa, ADRA Madagascar country director. The town has a population of 75,000 people. Mr. Randrianasolo, the local deputy, told ADRA staff who visited the town by helicopter, that the population had food for just ten days.

ADRA is already responding to flooding in Mozambique and Zimbabwe with food, blankets, and other essential items.

Established in 1956, ADRA is an independent, humanitarian agency with a presence in more than 120 countries worldwide. Anyone wishing to help ADRA=B9s response to flooding in Madagascar and other areas of southern Africa with financial contributions can call 1-800-424-ADRA or visit ADRA=B9s web page at www.adra.org.

Media Contact: Rick Kajiura, Public Relations Relations Director
Phone: (301) 680-6340 Fax: (301) 680-6370