Madagascar: Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi - Flash Update No. 3 (15 January 2025)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Initial reports indicate that more than 7,000 people have been affected by Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi in Madagascar. Over 1,000 houses have been damaged, 203 destroyed.

• Displacement sites have been vacated in the north of Madagascar as the displaced people have returned to their homes as of 15 January.

• Schools resumed on 13 January in some areas in the north of Madagascar. However, school courses for over 8,000 children have been disrupted as nearly 250 classrooms were damaged or destroyed by winds.

• The southwest coast of Madagascar, especially Toliara Province, is expected to receive heavy rains, strong winds and experience a dangerous sea state between 15 and 16 January as Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi intensifies.

• The government and humanitarian partners continue to provide lifesaving assistance to those affected by Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi, while monitoring its trajectory on the southwest coast.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

The number of people directly affected by Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi passage on 11 January in the extreme north of Madagascar increased to 7,028 people (2,284 families) including in Diana and Sava with 3,809 and 3,203 people respectively which were the most affected regions, according to the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC). At least three people were killed. Meanwhile, all the displacement sites in the north of Madagascar have been vacated as the displaced people have returned to their homes as of 15 January. Some 1,185 houses were flooded, 1,092 damaged and 209 completely destroyed. Courses for about 8,000 children have been disturbed as winds damaged 82 classrooms, partially destroyed 72 others and 98 were completely destroyed.

Dikeledi intensified to the stage of a Tropical Cyclone in the afternoon of 15 January. By late 15 January, it was located about 200 kilometres off the southwest coast of Madagascar, off the coast of Toliara, following a rapid movement to the south-southeast, according to Météo France. It is expected to develop into an intense tropical cyclone between 15 and 16 January while remaining more than 150 km from the Malagasy coast. Consequently, the southwest coast of Madagascar especially Toliara Province is expected to receive heavy rains, strong winds and experience a dangerous sea state on 15 and 16 January.

However, Dikeledi is expected to move away towards subtropical latitudes while gradually weakening, before losing its tropical characteristics at the end of the week on cooler waters, while curving its course towards the east. It will then no longer pose a danger to inhabited land.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

The Government of Madagascar conducted a high-level visit in the north to scale up humanitarian assistance using the pre-positioned stocks deployed during Tropical Cyclone Chido passage. The Food sector supported 314 families with rice, pulse and cooking oil in Ambilobe District in Diana region and they are deploying about 350 metric tons of foods. About 40 families in Fokontany Nosy be and others in Ambilobe District received water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) items and water purification products, through support from the WASH sector. School classes resumed on the 13 January in some areas in the north of Madagascar, while others will reopen when water levels recede, according to the Education sector. Additionally, six education experts were deployed to Vohemar and Ambilobe-Diego II- Nosy Be to support local coordination; the sector is preparing to deploy the education kits and materials for temporary schools and is waiting a possible Government support through the National Contingency Fund. The Protection sector is supporting the establishment of child-friendly spaces in affected areas in the north. In Sava, Diana and Sofia regions, a contingency plan was approved by humanitarian partners for possible child protection responses, while regional partners provided technical support on anticipatory action interventions for child protection in Sava and Diana regions. The Ministry of Health provided free medical treatment in accommodation sites as disease surveillance is ongoing. Coordination and information sharing meeting was held to inform partners on the cyclone situation. Dissemination of early warning messages is also ongoing in the affected region. Following the special cyclone bulletin warning on strong winds and heavy swell, the port of Toliara in the south imposed a temporary closure on the port on 15 and 16 January and a ban on sea operations which will run from 15 to 17 January.

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