“When nature shows its worst, our humanity must show its best.” – Andry Rajaonarivelo, an emergency responder
By Sofia Marii
As an Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer with the World Food Programme (WFP) in Madagascar, Andry Rajaonarivelo constantly helps people deal with the devastating aftermath of the cyclones and floods that frequently hit the large island nation. Andry describes his experiences.
I’m based in Manakara — a beautiful region in south-east Madagascar. But beneath Mankara’s charm lies a harsh reality: it’s one of the country’s most disaster-prone areas, frequently battered by cyclones and floods.
I grew up to the rhythm of cyclone seasons. Each year I witnessed families lose everything — homes swept away, food stocks destroyed, livestock gone. I felt helpless. But one question kept echoing in my mind: Will I ever be able to help them?
That question led me to humanitarian work. I joined WFP Madagascar in 2008, starting in the capital, Antananarivo, before moving to an office in the south-east. I’ve now been a humanitarian for more than 15 years — this work is now part of who I am.
Consecutive cyclones
I’ll never forget the passage of Cyclones Batsirai and Emnati, one after the other, in 2022. They left widespread devastation.
I still remember that night vividly — the tension in the air, the urgency, the weight of what was to come. Just 24 hours before Cyclone Batsirai hit Mananjary, I was part of a team working late into the night, organizing and distributing sandwiches to evacuees in temporary shelters. It was nearly 11 p.m. when we finished serving what might be their last warm meal before the storm.
What moved me most wasn’t just the act of giving food, it was the way people came together. This wasn’t one organization acting alone — it was a coordinated effort: WFP, the National Office for Disaster Risk Management, the Ministry of Population and the International Organization for Migration. We weren’t just handing out sandwiches — we were building a wall of solidarity before the storm.
In the evacuees’ quiet, tired faces, I saw more than exhaustion — I saw trust. People who had lost their homes or fled in fear were now depending on us. That moment reminded me why humanitarian work matters so deeply. When nature shows its worst, our humanity must show its best.
Personal impact
But then the emergency became personal.
My own family was in the path of the storm. Our house in Manakara — a sturdy concrete building I believed would protect us — was severely damaged. The roof was torn off, windows shattered by violent winds. I was working in Mananjary, 160 km away, with no way to contact my family for days. Thankfully, they had taken refuge in a safer place.
That moment changed everything. I had always believed we were safe in the city. But nature has a way of humbling us.
When I finally reached my family, I remembered a Malagasy saying: “Tsy misy manana ny ampy fa sambatra izay mifanampy” — No one ever has enough, but those who help one another are truly blessed.
Even as I distributed aid, my heart was with my family. But I kept going. I knew that by helping other families, I was, in a way, helping mine too.
Cyclone Freddy
A year later, in 2023, Cyclone Freddy brought back those memories. In Ikongo District, south-eastern Madagascar], landslides and damaged roads cut off entire communities. The only way to reach them was by helicopter.
It was challenging, but I remember the smiles on children’s faces, the look in women’s eyes; even in hardship there was gratitude, resilience and light. That gave me strength to continue.
In WFP we prepare logistics, calculate rations, coordinate airlifts. But once aid reaches the village, something remarkable happens. Men from the community step forward to organize the reception, to carry food to the most vulnerable — women, children, older people. Their involvement transforms a delivery into a shared mission.
What keeps me going is the awareness that people are counting on us. I don’t feel at peace doing nothing. I feel more human, more responsible, when I’m in action.