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Country analysis

Madagascar


Madagascar is highly exposed to natural hazards, such as cyclones, floods, and drought, because of its location in the southwestern Indian Ocean basin. High levels of poverty, dependence on rain-fed agriculture, poor water availability, and inadequate infrastructure have also reduced its people’s resilience to natural hazards.

The Grand Sud (Androy, Anosy, and Atsimo-Andrefana regions) and the eastern regions of Atsimo-Atsinana and Vatovavy Fitovinany have been experiencing the worst drought in 40 years. An estimated 3.3 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in the Grand Sud and Grand Sud-Est as at September 2022. Between November 2022 and March 2023, 2.23 million people (36% of the population analysed) are expected to experience severe acute food insecurity – i.e. Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse levels.

The worsening of the food security situation in 2022 was primarily a result of the impact of multiple years of weather shocks that led to low harvests, livelihood disruptions, and reduced incomes. An increase in the prices of imported commodities because of global trends in fuel and staple food prices, aggravated by the conflict in Ukraine and the depreciation of the Malagasy ariary, have also contributed to the deterioration of food security in the country.

Floods, landslides, and tropical storms are common in Madagascar. Six tropical storms, including Storm Batsirai, Intense Tropical Cyclone Emnati, and Cyclone Gombe, hit Madagascar from January–April 2022, causing flooding, landslides, displacements, and deaths. Tropical cyclones Emnati and Batsirai devastated crops, cash crops (coffee, cloves, pepper), and rice fields in February 2022, resulting in persistent needs for food assistance and livelihood restoration in Grand Sud-Est. In January 2023, Tropical Cyclone Cheneso made landfall in northern Madagascar; in February, Tropical Freddy made landfall in southern Madagascar.

(WWA 11/04/2022, IOM 18/01/2023, IPC 04/01/2023, FAO 19/12/2022, Save the children 20/01/2023, OCHA 20/01/2023)

Madagascar is highly exposed to natural hazards, such as cyclones, floods, and drought, because of its location in the southwestern Indian Ocean basin. High levels of poverty, dependence on rain-fed agriculture, poor water availability, and inadequate infrastructure have also reduced its people’s resilience to natural hazards.

The Grand Sud (Androy, Anosy, and Atsimo-Andrefana regions) and the eastern regions of Atsimo-Atsinana and Vatovavy Fitovinany have been experiencing the worst drought in 40 years. An estimated 3.3 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in the Grand Sud and Grand Sud-Est as at September 2022. Between November 2022 and March 2023, 2.23 million people (36% of the population analysed) are expected to experience severe acute food insecurity – i.e. Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse levels.

The worsening of the food security situation in 2022 was primarily a result of the impact of multiple years of weather shocks that led to low harvests, livelihood disruptions, and reduced incomes. An increase in the prices of imported commodities because of global trends in fuel and staple food prices, aggravated by the conflict in Ukraine and the depreciation of the Malagasy ariary, have also contributed to the deterioration of food security in the country.

Floods, landslides, and tropical storms are common in Madagascar. Six tropical storms, including Storm Batsirai, Intense Tropical Cyclone Emnati, and Cyclone Gombe, hit Madagascar from January–April 2022, causing flooding, landslides, displacements, and deaths. Tropical cyclones Emnati and Batsirai devastated crops, cash crops (coffee, cloves, pepper), and rice fields in February 2022, resulting in persistent needs for food assistance and livelihood restoration in Grand Sud-Est. In January 2023, Tropical Cyclone Cheneso made landfall in northern Madagascar; in February, Tropical Freddy made landfall in southern Madagascar.

(WWA 11/04/2022, IOM 18/01/2023, IPC 04/01/2023, FAO 19/12/2022, Save the children 20/01/2023, OCHA 20/01/2023)

Latest updates on country situation

07 November 2023

Food insecurity is projected to increase in the first quarter of next year. From January to April 2024, an estimated 1.72 million people will face IPC Phase 3 and above, an increase of 397,500 people (23% increase) mainly due to cyclones, floods, and heavy rainfall.
(IPC 22/08/2023, FEWS NET Accessed 09/11/2023)

28 July 2023

The current drought, the worst in 40 years, and the devastating impacts of Cyclones Freddy and Cheneso in 2023 have heightened the risk of famine in southern Madagascar and have had major impacts on agricultural land. Crops have been destroyed during their early stages of growth and germination, resulting in livelihood loss and aggravating food insecurity in the region. In 2023, 3.9 million people, including nearly 500,000 children, face critical food shortages. From August–October 2023, 59,000 are expected to face Emergency (IPC Phase 4) food insecurity. The affected population urgently needs food, NFIs, shelter, protection, education, WASH, and health services. (USAID 12/05/2023, ECHO accessed 01/08/2023, IPC 04/01/2023)

28 April 2023

Madagascar is currently experiencing a humanitarian emergency as a result of Cyclone Freddy in 2023, Cyclones Batsirai and Emnati in 2022, and a devastating drought in the Grand Sud from 2020–2022. These events have caused significant damage to crops, arable land, and livestock, resulting in the loss of livelihoods and worsened food insecurity.


Approximately 3.86 million people are in urgent need of assistance, including more than 454,900 children who require treatment for acute malnutrition. The health system was already under strain, and these recurring crises only aggravate the situation. The emergency has resulted in a pressing need for food, health, shelter, WASH, and protection services.


(OCHA 28/04/2023, FEWS NET 31/03/2022, FAO 18/08/2022)

06 April 2023

Tropical Cyclone Freddy made two landfalls on 21 February and 4 March 2023, affecting approximately 299,000 people, displacing over 70,000 people, killing 17 people, destroying homes, and causing major damage to public infrastructure. Those displaced are mostly hosted in schools, some of which were already previously affected by Cyclone Cheneso. Those affected are in need of WASH facilities, shelter, food, and NFIs. (WFP 06/04/2023, ECHO 15/03/2023)

23 March 2023

On 21 February 2023, and again on 4 March, Cyclone Freddy landed on the southeastern and southwestern coastal regions of Madagascar, affecting an estimated 266,000 people, displacing more than 87,000, and killing 17. The cyclone destroyed homes and property, damaging roads and power and communication lines and hindering aid operations in these regions. On 21 February, schools were indefinitely suspended in the ten regions most affected by the cyclone. The affected population urgently needs food, NFI, shelter, protection, education, WASH, and health services.
(NYT 09/03/2023, IFRC 23/03/2023, WFP 08/03/2023, npr 14/03/2023)

current crises
in Madagascar


These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

MDG008 - Tropical cyclone Freddy

Last updated 30/11/2023


Drivers

Cyclone

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

2.7 Medium

Access constraints

2.0

MDG001 - Country level

Last updated 30/11/2023


Drivers

Drought
Cyclone

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

2.9 Medium

Access constraints

2.0

MDG002 - Drought

Last updated 30/11/2023


Drivers

Drought

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

2.5 Medium

Access constraints

1.0

REG012 - Southern Africa Regional Food Security Crisis

Last updated 30/11/2023


Drivers


Crisis level

Regional

Severity level

3.9 High

Access constraints

4.0

Analysis products
on Madagascar

Madagascar: Tropical Cyclone Freddy exposure and vulnerabilities

22 February 2023

Madagascar: Tropical Cyclone Freddy exposure and vulnerabilities

DOCUMENT / PDF / 4 MB

The report aims to provide a brief overview of the key regions exposed to Tropical Cyclone Freddy and highlight existing vulnerabilities that might increase the needs of the exposed population.

Natural hazardsCoping mechanisms
Madagascar: Food insecurity crisis in the Grand Sud regions

10 March 2022

Madagascar: Food insecurity crisis in the Grand Sud regions

DOCUMENT / PDF / 575 KB

The report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the main drivers of the current food insecurity situation in the Grand Sud and its impact on affected households across humanitarian response sectors. The report also provides an overview of coping mechanisms used by people in need, which have further adverse effects. 

Coping mechanismsFood security & livelihoods
Madagascar: Tropical Cyclone Enawo

13 March 2017

Madagascar: Tropical Cyclone Enawo

DOCUMENT / PDF / 542 KB

Tropical Cyclone Enawo, equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, made landfall over Antalaha district, in the northeastern coast of Madagascar, on 7 March. As of 13 March, at least 100,000 people have been directly affected by the cyclone, approximately half of whom are in Antalaha district. 

Natural hazards
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