letter from Madagascar
Thousands of vulnerable households in Madagascar are still struggling to mitigate food shortages and rebuild their lives after failed harvests and Cyclone Gezani devastated the island in February 2026.
An early food crisis warning was issued by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) on 5 March, estimating that between 1.5–1.99 million people will need humanitarian food assistance during the peak lean season from February to May 2026. The report suggests that many families are trying to cope by consuming dangerous wild foods, selling productive assets and incurring spiralling debt. Nearly 80% of Toamasina – Madagascar’s main port – was destroyed when gusts of up to 167 miles per hour ripped through the country’s second largest city on 12 February. According to the UN, 478,000 people have been affected, over 25,700 homes flooded, and 781 classrooms and 30 health facilities damaged. At least 59 people lost their lives. Response efforts began immediately, with aerial surveys and essential medical supplies delivered by Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) – the world’s largest humanitarian air operator – in partnership with NGOs, medics and local churches.
Short MAF flights are enabling access to the most cut-off communities, saving almost a week of overland travel. Pastor Miarana – who received relief supplies flown in by MAF – witnessed the devastation first hand. He said of the cyclone: “It was very painful to watch. We put the children under the bed so the ceiling would not fall on them.”
