Madagascar: HI supports the victims of Cyclone Fytia

On January 31, 2026, Cyclone Fytia passed over the northern part of Madagascar. In total, 203,000 people were affected by the disaster. With wind speeds reaching up to 210 km/h, the northwestern coastal region of Boeny was hit particularly hard.²  Many homes were damaged or flooded, and crops were lost. Humanity & Inclusion (HI) quickly launched a two-pronged emergency response: victims received financial support to help cover their basic needs, and humanitarian partners were trained in inclusive emergency response, ensuring that people with disabilities are not left behind.

Financial support to cover basic needs

Denise is one of 16,000 victims who received financial support from HI after Cyclone Fytia passed through. Thanks to warnings via radio by the local authorities, the 85-year-old woman was able to reach safety in time, with the help of her children. Pain in her knees and her limited vision make it difficult for her to evacuate independently.

“My children told me: ‘Come, we’ll take you by cart to a safe place to take shelter. The water may rise quickly and your house will be flooded.’ Luckily, we left in time. I was really scared.” – Denise, survivor of Cyclone Fytia

The amount Denise received from HI was used to pay her grandchildren’s school fees and cover her meals. Before the disaster, she earned a living by selling her harvest, but her rice fields were buried under sand due to the cyclone.

Financial aid is a fast and effective way to support people after a disaster. It allows them to decide for themselves how best to use the support, based on their own needs. At the same time, it helps local economies recover more quickly, as essential goods are purchased locally.

People with disabilities being overlooked

45-year-old Claude also received financial support from HI. Like Denise, Claude mainly relies on farming for his livelihood. His house was severely damaged and his crops were destroyed. Thanks to HI’s support, he can repair his home and gradually rebuild his life.

“This is truly a good project because it directly helps farmers by providing financial assistance in times of emergency. It allows us to quickly move past our darkest days.” – Claude, survivor of Cyclone Fytia

Claude experienced in the past how people with disabilities were often overlooked. The farmer lives with a visual impairment and explains that during previous disasters, many persons with disabilities did not have access to emergency aid. 

Hery, another victim of cyclone Fytia, confirms the same experience. Hery is a single man who has difficulty walking due to a physical disability. During the cyclone, he was forced to shelter under his bed after the wind blew the roof off his house. Hery explains that no specific support was provided to people with disabilities after the disaster. The cash assistance from HI was therefore the first help he received.

“HI is the first to have thought of people with disabilities.” – Hery, survivor of Cyclone Fytia

The experiences of Claude and Hery are not coincidental: due to physical and social barriers, among other factors, people with disabilities have disproportionately limited access to emergency assistance in the event of disasters or armed conflicts.³

Aid that leaves no one behind

That is why, following the cyclone, HI also focused on inclusive emergency response: through training, other humanitarian actors and local authorities were made aware of the specific needs of people with disabilities, ensuring that they are not overlooked in current and future evacuation plans and interventions. Thanks to these training courses on inclusive aid, HI’s emergency response therefore also has a long-term impact.

“I realised during the training that people with disabilities are often on the margins of society, while it is essential to include them and support them in their daily lives—it is truly a priority.” – Charline Razafiarinoro from the Regional Directorate of Population and Solidarity and participant in the inclusive humanitarian aid training

¹ OCHA

² EM-DAT 

³ UN