18/02/2026 (Agence Europe) – In a statement on X on Wednesday 18 February, the European Commission announced emergency aid of €1.25 million for Madagascar following the passage of cyclone Gezani, which hit the country’s north-east coast on 10 February and caused extensive damage to infrastructure. The money will be invested in accommodation, access to drinking water, sanitation and essential health services to support the more than 260,000 people affected. This climatic disaster comes against a backdrop of extreme vulnerability in Madagascar, where 1.57 million people are already suffering from food insecurity, according to the United Nations. Due to a lack of funding, the World Food Programme has also had to reduce the aid planned for the coming months to just 10% of the initial beneficiaries, which will leave half a million people without assistance. (JM)