Pretoria - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has expressed heartfelt concern and empathy for the people of Madagascar in the wake of the destruction caused by Cyclone Giovanna.
According to media reports, three people have died as a result of Cyclone Giovanna which struck land at about 1am on Tuesday, bringing rain and high winds. About 70 families had to flee their home because of floods.
"SADC expresses its sincere support and sympathy to all the victims of cyclone Giovanna and, in particular, the poor, women and children who are the worst affected during such natural disasters," said South African Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Marius Fransman, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) and the South African Special Envoy to Madagascar.
In a statement on Wednesday, he said SADC's clarion call at this point was that the interim government, all political stakeholders, civil society and the nation at large put aside their political differences and firmly unite behind the victims of cyclone Giovanna.
"It is your patriotic duty to provide the necessary assistance and human solidarity to all victims at this critical time".
SADC furthermore hopes that out of this terrible disaster, the nation will pull together to rebuild the communities directly affected as well as to use this experience to start the process of healing the nation from its recent political challenges, he added.
