French President Emmanuel Macron was harassed during his visit to the hurricane-hit island of Mayotte.
After facing boos and calls to resign from local residents demanding more aid in the affected areas, Macron responded by telling the locals: “I am not the hurricane. I am not responsible.”
It arrived in French territory in the Indian Ocean on Thursday, five days after Cyclone Chido devastated small islands. Thousands cannot reach water, and rescuers continue their efforts to find the missing.
Macron told reporters that he had extended his visit until Friday as a sign of respect, and that leaving on the same day would have “consolidated the idea that we come, we look and we leave.”
Macron will visit more neighborhoods on Friday. He said the government would send more support to the region soon, adding that France would celebrate a national day of mourning on Monday.
French officials reported that at least 31 people had died, but the death toll was expected to be much higher with thousands still missing. Much of the archipelago is still without electricity.
Officials say food and water supplies are the top priority. Macron He said that he brought with him four tons of food and health supplies during his visit.
After touring the area in a helicopter to see DestructionHe said Thursday was a day he will never forget.
The president pledged to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure and homes on the islands.
People chanted “Macron's resignation,” “You're talking nonsense,” and “Water, water, water” as he inspected the affected areas.
During his visit to the Mamoudzou Hospital Centre, Agence France-Presse reported that a woman told Macron: “No one feels safe here… People are fighting over water.”
A man in the hospital told Macron: “Your services are exhausting.” “Help has not arrived where I live.”
But others said they were grateful for Macron's visit and urged him to stay longer.
The region north of Madagascar is the poorest part of France. It suffers from widespread social and economic problems, including high rates of illegal immigration from neighboring Comoros and poor quality of housing and public services.
It is believed that migrants were among the people hardest hit by the cyclone.
A state of exceptional natural disaster was declared, which allowed administrative obstacles to be overcome to deal with the crisis more quickly and effectively.
It is activated for a period of one month, and can be extended for two-month periods if necessary.
Chido – the worst storm to hit the archipelago in 90 years – brought winds of more than 225 kilometers per hour (140 mph) on Saturday, leveling areas where people live in metal-roofed huts and leaving fields of dirt and debris.
After Mayotte, the storm hit the African mainland, killing at least 45 people in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi.
