In the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, Mayotte faces a challenging recovery with debris clearance overshadowing reconstruction efforts. The cyclone caused significant damage, leaving many homes uninhabitable and residents awaiting insurance claims. Material shortages further complicate rebuilding, as construction companies struggle to secure supplies. While immediate repairs have been initiated, progress is slow, with many households still covered in tarps as they navigate the lengthy road to recovery amidst ongoing structural challenges.
In the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, a daunting scene unfolds in a building courtyard, where debris accumulates and plasterboard along with fiberglass obstructs the staircase entrance. Six weeks post-cyclone, the focus in Mayotte remains heavily on debris clearance rather than the much-needed reconstruction, hinting at a prolonged recovery journey ahead.
The highest apartment in this Petite-Terre building has lost its roof, with wooden walls crumbling under the cyclone’s fierce winds.
On the ground floor, remnants of shattered glass and fabric scatter around a sofa, a TV unit, and an untouched china cabinet.
“It has remained like this since Chido,” remarks Ali Anthum, a construction company employee. “We must remove all the damaged items before we can initiate any repairs.” The company now finds itself overwhelmed with this extensive undertaking.
Chido marked its place in history as the most catastrophic cyclone to hit Mayotte in nearly a century, resulting in at least 39 fatalities and over 5,600 injuries, as reported by local authorities.
Hamidat Soilihi, the apartment’s owner, was away in mid-December and returned three weeks later to find her home in disarray, unable to manage the cleanup alone.
Most residences and structures in this economically challenged French department are now draped in tarps or sheets, although the journey to reconstruction is expected to be lengthy.
Following the arrival of Storm Dikeledi on January 12, the immediate priority shifted to patching roofs.
“With each rain, water pooled, causing the false ceiling to sag,” shares Florent, a tenant in Labattoir, Petite-Terre. However, a roof replacement isn’t yet on the agenda.
Julian Champiat, president of the Mahoran Federation of Building and Public Works (FMBTP), highlights that many residents are currently waiting for their insurance claims to be processed. “An expert needs to assess the damage, and they require compensation to commence repairs.”
The central reinsurance fund reveals that fewer than 10% of homes in Mayotte have insurance, and Hamidat Soilihi is among the uninsured.
“The last apartment was just finished; I hadn’t managed to complete the necessary steps,” explains this mother of three children, aged 5 to 12, who faces uncertainty about how to begin her rebuilding efforts.
The Mayotte Real Estate Company has identified 1,500 homes affected out of its total stock of 3,200, including 1,000 social housing units, and has only tackled the most pressing repairs to date.
“We’re collaborating with experts and insurance firms, and we anticipate starting initial works in the next two weeks,” emphasizes Ahmed Ali Mondroha, the company’s director, projecting costs to soar into the “tens of millions of euros.”
Material Shortages Impacting Recovery
Construction firms are grappling with a significant challenge: the scarcity of building materials.
“The wealthier residents rushed to purchase metal sheets immediately after the cyclone,” notes Bruno Baratte, operations director at the Tôle de Mayotte company.
“Those with limited resources sought our quotes and are waiting for their insurance payouts. Unfortunately, we quickly ran out of stock on numerous items. We placed a new order right after the cyclone, but we won’t see any deliveries until the end of March,” predicts Baratte.
Julian Champiat points out that there is a shortage of “metal sheets, roofing materials, framing, plasterboard… essentially everything required to build a house.”
These material shortages are hindering the initiation of construction projects, compounded by uncertainty surrounding the new public establishment tasked with overseeing reconstruction, as outlined in the emergency bill recently approved by the National Assembly.
“The most urgent repairs have been completed in schools. Tarps have been affixed to roofs, and any securements that could be made have been addressed,” states the FMBTP president, who is now awaiting directives from the new reconstruction establishment.
“For major projects, tenders will be issued, and responses will need to be collected; all of this takes time… We might not see significant progress on the ground for a month or two,” he warns.