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SADC deploys emergency team to Madagascar after Cyclone Gezani
The Southern African Development Community has deployed its Emergency Response Team to support the Government of Madagascar after Tropical Cyclone Gezani made landfall on 10 February 2026 – the second storm in ten days after Cyclone Fytia – causing fatalities, mass displacement and major damage to infrastructure and essential services. Working with MapAction, Rescue South Africa and the World Food Programme, teams are on the ground from 16–28 February providing coordination support, search and rescue, geospatial analysis and ongoing situation monitoring, alongside work to consolidate a regional humanitarian appeal.
As of 16 February, more than 270,000 people across 18 districts in Atsinanana, Analamanga, Analanjirofo, Itasy and Alaotra Mangoro have been affected by flooding and landslides. The SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre is coordinating with OCHA and national authorities to back Government‑led efforts on immediate relief and early recovery – with implications for transport, access and tourism operations in affected areas.
