AL IMDAAD FOUNDATIONS HUMANITARIAN FLIGHT TO MADAGASCAR
A country which feels the force of around 60 percent of the storms that form over the Indian Ocean every year, the cyclone-prone island of Madagascar was once again struck by a category-four tropical storm on the 14th of February 2012. Mustering winds up to 194km/h, Cyclone Giovanna tore into the eastern port city of Toamasina ripping up trees and electricity pylons. Post cyclone assessments revealed that 11 000 were left homeless and that there was a severe shortage of clean drinking water and food . Apart from destroying thousands of homes, the cyclone also killed 23 people, left up to 70 people injured and affected close to 259,000 people. Less than two weeks after being battered by Cyclone Giovanna, another violent storm swept over Madagascar killing 72 people, leaving another 70,000 homeless. Tropical storm Irina brought heavy rains and destroyed roads and houses already weakened by the first cyclone.
Partnering with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, representatives of the Al Imdaad Foundation will be accompanying officials from the Department to administer the distribution of aid to the victims of the two cyclones. Relief items to be distributed include shelter, blankets, water purification tablets and high value food hampers. A Boeing 767 aircraft sponsored by the government of South Africa and headed by the Deputy Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Marius Fransman, will transport the 20 tons of AIF’s relief aid to the island of Madagascar on the 13th March 2012. Various journalists are accompanying the Minister who will document the activities of the team as well as the finer details relating to this humanitarian flight.
Qari Ziyaad Patel, Trustee and International Projects Co-ordinator with some of the relief aid destined for Madagascar on its humanitarian flight
Off-loading relief aid which comprised high valued food hampers, tents, water purification tablets and blankets
Qari Ziyaad Patel, Trustee and International Projects Co-ordinator personally inspected the loading of relief aid onto the Boeing 767 aircraft
The AIF team with DIRCO members embarked on a Boeing 767 aircraft for Madagascar with the 20 tons of relief aid
The humanitarian flight sponsored by government taxis down the runway at the Lanseria Airport, Johannesburg.
Zaakir Rawat
Al-Imdaad Foundation
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