CIRCULAR NO.: JMT/174/22 DATE: 29th March 2022
The local community in Madagascar have been badly affected by two recent cyclones (Batsirai and Emnati) and two tropical storms (Ana and Dumako). The death toll from these extreme weather conditions have reached 205 and more than 420,000 people have been cumulatively affected in the south-east regions of Madagascar since January 2022.
Flooding and devastating winds have caused wide-spread destruction of houses, schools, farms as well as health centres. At least 60,000 hectares of rice fields have been flooded twice, which means potentially 90% of the food production is reported destroyed.
Nearly 5,000 Malagasy Shias who reside in towns of Manakara, Vohipeno, Vatomandry and Mananjary have been affected, and are need of our help.
Conseil Regional of Madagascar and Africa Federation Secretariat responded immediately to the emergency situation and have provided assistance of food to the victims of the cyclones in these villages. The Chairman of Conseil Regional of Madagascar (CROI) who is also the Vice Chairman of Africa Federation from Madagascar, Alhaj Sheikh Haniphe Akbaraly accompanied by his colleagues visited the affected villages and met the local communities who are presently living in desperate conditions, caused by the devastating cyclones, guts and flooding.
The ravaging cyclone, strong winds and floods can be viewed from this short clip to watch.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-60264389
Initially, 1000 bags of rice (each bag containing 50kg) were distributed and another 1000 bags will be distributed in the coming weeks. CROI in collaboration with the external Tabligh institutions (INISMA, CRA & BILAL) are monitoring the situation in these villages.
With the Holy month of Ramadhan approaching soon, we should do everything possible to help those affected people so that they too can fast and perform their Ibad’at in the holy month of Ramadhan with some ease and comfort.
We appeal to our community members who wish to contribute towards assisting the affected families to channel their funds through their local Jamaat offices, Conseil Regional of Madagascar, Africa Federation office, Tigopesa (+255 652 552 447) or Airtel (+255 699 476 010).
Well-wishers from overseas can donate through the World Federation office as well as the Regional Federation offices.
Members can also donate online at https://www.africafederation.org/donate/
Let us all pray to Allah (SWT) in these blessed months of Shab’an and Mahe Ramadhan for the safety and wellbeing of all the people of Madagascar and in other parts of the World to save all from all the calamities, Ameen.
Zuhair Jaffer
Hon. Secretary