Cyclone Gezani: A Path of Destruction Pierces Madagascar's Economic Heart
More than 400,000 people are affected as the cyclone devastates homes, infrastructure, and vital harvests – potentially deepening Madagascar's hunger crisis.
On February 10, 2026, Intense Tropical Cyclone Gezani slammed into Madagascar's east coast near Toamasina. It brought sustained winds of 180 km/h and terrifying gusts of up to 250 km/h. For a country already reeling from Tropical Cyclone Fytia – which hit just ten days earlier – Gezani is a catastrophic blow.
The scale of the disaster is massive. According to the latest figures from the National Bureau for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC), 424,000 people (over 105,000 households) across 25 districts have been affected. The human toll: 59 lives have been lost, and 804 people are injured.
A City Left Homeless
The destruction of infrastructure has been absolute in many areas. More than 49,100 houses have been damaged or destroyed. Currently, over 16,000 people remain displaced, seeking refuge in crowded collective shelters or with neighbors.
"Tropical Cyclone Gezani hit Madagascar with wind speeds of up to 270 km/h, leaving around 280,000 people without shelter – the equivalent of an entire city like Bonn suddenly homeless. Beyond the severe damage to the port of Tamatave and key infrastructure, vast agricultural areas – the country's rice basket – are flooded just weeks before harvest, which will dramatically worsen food insecurity in a country where hunger is already at an alarming level. This disaster once again highlights the stark injustice of climate change, as Madagascar – one of the world's poorest countries – is repeatedly hit by climate shocks that push vulnerable communities even deeper into poverty."
Marie-Catherine Mabrut WHH Country Director MadagascarThe Hunger Crisis: A Deteriorating Outlook
The timing of Cyclone Gezani could not be worse. Madagascar was already struggling with hunger. Between December 2025 and January 2026, about 1.57 million people were facing high levels of acute food insecurity.
With the destruction of crops and the disruption of supply chains through the port of Toamasina – the country’s primary economic engine – the situation is expected to get much worse. By April 2026, it is projected that 1.8 million people will face high levels of acute food insecurity. Families in the south and southeast are now dealing with a "triple threat": climate shocks, health pressures like the Mpox outbreak, and the loss of their primary livelihoods.
WHH on the Ground: Our Emergency Response
WHH has been active in Madagascar for years and mobilized its Country Emergency Team the moment the storm passed. Our intervention focuses on the most urgent needs in the heavily affected district of Toamasina II.
Our response includes:
- Cash for Work: 3,000 households will receive financial support for clearing access routes and cleaning drainage channels, providing immediate income while repairing vital infrastructure.
- Safe Water: We are disinfecting 100 wells and providing water treatment at the household level to stop the spread of waterborne diseases.
- Essential Supplies: We are handing out kitchen kits and essential household items to 1,500 families who have lost everything.
- Child Nutrition: We are starting a nutrition program for 6,000 children under the age of five to fight malnutrition.
A Call for Solidarity
Madagascar's resilience is being tested to the limit. While WHH is working tirelessly alongside local authorities and UN partners, the gap between what people need and the funding available is still huge. As we move from immediate relief to the long road to recovery, international support is vital to ensure this climate disaster doesn't turn into a long-term famine.
