Madagascar: Humanitarian impact of Tropical Cyclone Gezani Flash Update No. 5 (13 March 2026)

HIGHLIGHTS

• More than 681,000 people have been affected by the impacts of two successive severe tropical systems - Cyclone Fytia and Intense Tropical Cyclone Gezani.
• US$23.2 million has been mobilized, part of which has contributed to the US$67.8 million Flash Appeal launched on 20 February, targeting 486,000 people to support the Government-led response.
• Humanitarian partners are working closely with the Government of Madagascar and local authorities to scale up multi-sector assistance to address urgent needs.
• Access to the hardest-hit areas remains challenging, particularly in two of the most isolated communes.

SITUATION OVERVIEW
Madagascar is recovering from the devastating impact of two successive tropical systems, Cyclone Fytia and Intense Tropical Cyclone Gezani, which struck the country within ten days of each other. Cyclone Fytia formed in the Mozambique Channel on 28 January and made landfall near Soalala on the west coast of Madagascar on 31 January while Gezani formed over the southwest Indian Ocean on 4 February and rapidly intensified before making landfall near Toamasina on Madagascar’s east coast on 10 February. The cyclones brought strong winds, heavy rainfall and widespread flooding, causing extensive damage to homes, socio-economic infrastructure, agricultural land and essential services across several regions, particularly in Atsinanana, Boeny. The successive storms compounded vulnerabilities in already fragile communities and strained national response capacities.