Providing Cyclone Gezani Relief in Madagascar

In February 2026, Tropical Cyclone Gezani became the costliest cyclone to hit Madagascar on record. Striking the East Coast and the port city of Toamasina (Tamatave in French) with winds of 121 mph, it claimed 59 lives, leaving 804 people injured, and 15 people missing. The cyclone destroyed more than 25,000 homes, with a further 27,000 flooded, displacing 16,000 people.

Several months after the passage of Cyclone Gezani, daily life for the people of Tamatave had not yet returned to normal. Electricity had not been fully restored, most businesses had gone bankrupt, many people lost their jobs, and the majority of destroyed homes had not yet been rebuilt.

With the assistance of neighborhood leaders, HOPE worldwide Madagascar volunteers conducted field assessments in four urban and suburban neighborhoods of Tamatave to gather information on the daily lives of these vulnerable households.

The results show an average monthly income of 140,000 Ariary ($33.50 USD) for these households. The vast majority of their homes are constructed from wood, bamboo, or ravinala palm, and nearly 80% of these structures were destroyed by Cyclone Gezani. Most of these households were living in makeshift, open-sided shelters.

Two donation distribution campaigns were organized, taking place in May and June, 2026. 80 households were selected to receive help. Each household received 25 kg of rice, 1 liter of oil, and a bar of soap.

HOPEww Madagascar and the partner church in Antananarivo are continuing to assist families in the eastern part of the country affected by Cyclone Gizani. The volunteers have helped rebuild dwellings damaged during the disaster and fed more than 80 households for a period of two months. Thanks to the financial support from HOPEww, the brothers and sisters in the church continue to lend a hand.