What happened in Madagascar?
Cyclone Gezani hit Madagascar’s northeast coast on February 10th, leaving a trail of destruction. More than 400,000 people were affected and tens of thousands of people lost their homes. More than 50,000 houses were either flooded or completely destroyed.
Toamasina, the country’s second largest city, was hit especially hard, with around 70% of the city severely damaged. Homes were submerged, roofs ripped off, and buildings collapsed.
Around 80-90% of homes were destroyed or badly damaged.
Cyclone Gezani made landfall just after Cyclone Fytia, bringing even more powerful winds and flooding, and leaving many communities without power and clean water.
Rebuilding was difficult as so much forest has been lost. Families lost their homes, belongings, crops, and livestock. Many local schools were also
significantly damaged.
Many people returned to protect their ancestral land and what was left of their homes. They lived under collapsed roofs or makeshift shelters like soboko – a local term for a roof placed directly on the ground.
How ShelterBox helped after Cyclone Gezani in Madagascar
ShelterBox worked with partner Welthungerhilfe (WHH), a German aid organization, and Rotary members in Madagascar to provide shelter to 1,530 households, reaching approximately 7,650 people affected by the cyclone.
Displaced people were provided with shelter repair kits and corrugated iron roof sheets, and household items like kitchen sets, mosquito nets, solar lights, and buckets.
Our response teams worked closely with local partners and communities to provide carpentry training. Three individuals from each Fokontany (district) were selected to undergo training, including a 3-hour theory session and practical construction of a mini house. These structures were then transported back to their communities by WHH to be used as a demo, to provide training to the rest of the community members.
Why support ShelterBox?
With over 25 years of experience, we are experts in emergency shelter after disaster. We often work in places that others don’t, making sure that we reach families who need support to take the next step in resuming their livelihoods.
From Cameroon to Ukraine, all the way to the Philippines and the Caribbean, we have provided shelter to over 3 million people so far. And in these uncertain times, your support is more valuable than ever.
We won’t stop until we see a world where no one goes without shelter after disaster. Will you help us?
Donate NowWhat will a donation to ShelterBox fund?
With the help of amazing supporters like you, we’re working hard to provide emergency shelter for vulnerable families around the world who have lost their homes after disaster.
In 2025 alone, ShelterBox supported more than 231,000 people with emergency shelter and essential aid across 17 countries and territories
In the past 25 years since being founded ShelterBox has:
- Supported over 3 million people worldwide
- Worked in around 100 countries around the globe
