Tropical Cyclone Enawo struck north-eastern Madagascar at around 11.30 hours on 7 March 2017, with average wind of over 205 km per hour, and with peaks of 300 km per hour. After battering Sava and Analanjirofo regions, the cyclone crossed Madagascar from North to South for two days, lashing heavy rains on all the country including the capital Antananarivo, home to more than 2 million people, resulting in flooding that displaced thousands of people. According to Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes (BNGRC), more than 400,000 people have been affected in 8 regions, with the North-East being mostly impacted.
Enawo moved West-South-West and reached the coasts of Madagascar between Antalaha and Cap Masoala on the North-East. Enawo subsequently moved southwards across the highlands, including the capital Antananarivo. The cyclone brought a lot of rain, during its passage through the regions. A peak of rainfall was experienced in the eastern slopes of Madagascar. Enawo crossed the Island through the regions of Sava, Analanjirofo, Alaotra Mangoro, Atsinanana, Analamanga, Vakinankaratra, Bongolava, Itasy, Ihombre, Amoron'i Mania, Haute Matsiatra, and Vatovavy Fitovinany. (Please refer to map annexed with this document.) Within a week of the disaster, it was estimated that 80’000 people were displaced, about half in the North-East regions alone. The Prime Minister of the Government of Madagascar appealed for the mobilization of all partners in responding to needs at national and local levels and Government of Madagascar officially declared a National situation of emergency on 14 March 2017. The Government also activated its crisis management coordination group and meetings were convened to discuss and monitor cyclone response.
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