Our Latest Corporate Social Responsibility Mission: Supporting Mayotte Following Cyclone Chido

Supporting Mayotte After Cyclone Chido: A Drone-Powered CSR Initiative

Show your support here:

https://msf.org.uk/article/cyclone-chido-how-msf-responding-mayotte-and-mozambique
https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund

In the wake of Cyclone Chido’s devastation in Mayotte, we have committed to providing support through our specialized drone technology and expertise as part of the ongoing emergency relief efforts. The scale of the damage has overwhelmed local authorities and major NGOs, leaving them struggling to meet the massive needs of the affected communities.

While our resources are limited, and our team is small, we are using our knowledge of the drone industry to provide real-time aerial insights that can assist in critical decision-making, search-and-rescue missions, and damage assessment. Drones are proving invaluable in accessing hard-to-reach areas, offering a bird’s-eye view that is often impossible for ground crews to achieve in the aftermath of such a catastrophic event.

Despite being thin on the ground and facing equipment constraints, our volunteer efforts are making a tangible impact. The data gathered through drone flights is helping to map out the most urgent needs, track the delivery of supplies, and offer vital information to guide response teams. The overwhelming scale of the crisis has placed immense pressure on the local NGOs, and while we are just one small piece of a much larger puzzle, every bit of assistance counts in times like these.

We are proud to be part of the collective effort to support Mayotte’s recovery, and we remain committed to doing what we can to help the local communities rebuild, even if our contribution is one small part of the larger global response.

Mayotte, the poorest and most unequal region of France in the European Union, is facing two cyclones: natural disasters and the more insidious social and economic divide. While cyclone Chido caused considerable damage, the island’s structural vulnerabilities amplify the effects of these repeated crises. Yet these challenges can be an opportunity for transformation if the right policies are implemented. Here are three ways to rebuild a resilient and balanced future.

1. An overhaul of French departmentalisation

Since becoming a French department in 2011, Mayotte has remained trapped in a standardised development model that is ill-suited to its specific characteristics. With 77% of its population living below the poverty line and unemployment reaching 37%, the gaps with France persist, despite major financial efforts. Policies in the French overseas territories need to move towards a differentiated approach that recognises local particularities. For Mayotte, this could mean a ‘Marshall Plan’ focusing on demographics, education and basic infrastructure, particularly access to water and housing. This adaptation is essential if we are to break the cycles of economic dependence and reduce structural inequalities.

2. Greater regional integration in the Indian Ocean

Mayotte cannot prosper in isolation in a region marked by migratory flows and economic disparities. As a French department, the island enjoys a special status, but this also exposes it to heightened social tensions. Strengthening links with Réunion and neighbouring countries would enable regional cooperation to be developed, particularly in the energy and food security sectors. The exploitation of natural resources, such as gas, and better geopolitical coordination as part of France’s Indo-Pacific strategy, could reposition Mayotte as a key player in the region.

3. An appropriate European support policy

The European Union already plays a crucial role in Mayotte, particularly through the funds earmarked for the Outermost Regions (ORs). However, a paradigm shift is needed to better respond to the specific crises of these territories. Inspired by European cohesion policies, it is possible to design innovative tools adapted to the realities of the islands, such as programmes for energy transition or the circular economy. Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union could be used to mobilise more resources to support sustainable and inclusive development in Mayotte.

An opportunity for transformation

These three avenues – overhaul of national policies, regional integration and enhanced European support – form a triangle of opportunities for Mayotte. More than just a catalogue of solutions, they outline a strategic framework for transforming the island into a model of resilience and innovation. To succeed, this will require coordination between the State, the European Union and local players, to combine solidarity and adaptation to local realities.

Despite its challenges, Mayotte also embodies a promise: to demonstrate that a vulnerable territory can become an example of sustainable reconstruction and social justice. As the motto of Mayotte says, Ra Hachiri – ‘We are vigilant’. This vigilance must be translated into concrete action, starting now.