Madagascar: Humanitarian impact of Tropical Cyclone Gezani Flash Update No. 1 (10 February 2026)

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Intense Tropical Cyclone Gezani intensified on 9 February and is forecast to make landfall in Madagascar in the evening of 10 February near the city of Toamasina. Coastal and low-lying areas are at highest risk, with secondary impacts anticipated in parts of central and southern Mozambique by 13 February.
• Humanitarian partners are concerned that large numbers of people will be at risk from the cyclone in both Madagascar and Mozambique.
• The UN Central Emergency Fund (CERF) allocated US$3 million to six UN agencies in Madagascar in pre-arranged finance for anticipatory action to help partners support more than 93,000 vulnerable people among the most exposed to and at high risk of being severely impacted by the cyclone.
• To support the response to the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Fytia, CERF has also made a provision of $2 million for an urgent response for Tropical Cyclone Fytia. The allocation is funding life-saving support – such as providing food, agriculture inputs, clean water, health care, emergency shelter, education support and basic household items - for affected communities in Soalala and Marovoay districts.
• Cyclone Gezani compounds existing humanitarian needs, coming just ten days after Tropical Cyclone Fytia, which caused 12 deaths, displaced over 31,000 people and affected more than 200,000 people across nine regions, damaging nearly 18,600 houses, 493 classrooms and 20 health facilities, and undermining food security and essential services.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

A tropical system that formed on 5 February in the Indian Ocean off Madagascar’s north-eastern coast intensified into Tropical Cyclone Gezani on 9 February. Madagascar and Mozambique face the highest risk of exposure, with coastal and low-lying areas expected to bear the brunt of strong winds, storm surge and heavy rainfall.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall in Madagascar in the evening of 10 February as an intense Tropical Cyclone, with significant humanitarian impacts anticipated across the south-western Indian Ocean region and potential secondary impacts in parts of Mozambique by 13 February. In Madagascar, landfall is likely along the eastern coast between Mananara Avaratra and Vatomandry. Highly populated areas, including Toamasina and Ambatondrazaka, are among those at highest risk.

By the afternoon of 10 February, the cyclone was tracking westward less than 200 km from the coastal city of Toamasina, Madagascar. It was expected to continue intensifying rapidly and could reach the stage of an intense tropical cyclone before making landfall near Toamasina. As a precaution, the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC) has placed Analanjirofo and Atsinanana under red alert, while Ambatosoa, Alaotra Mangoro, Analamanga, Betsiboka, Bongolava, Itasy, Vakinankaratra, Melaky, Menabe, Antalaha, Andapa, Mandritsara, Befandriana and Avaratra have been placed under yellow alert. Severe weather conditions are expected inland, particularly north of Antananarivo, south of Mahajanga and north of Toliara. Regional authorities in some areas, including Analamanga, have suspended school classes on 11 February as a public safety measure following the alerts.