Mayotte facing Cyclone Chido: forms, constraints, catalysts and sustainability of spontaneous mobilisation in response to disasters
This research aims to analyse inter- and intra-organisational cooperation and coordination practices during the response to Cyclone Chido in Mayotte, in order to identify the dynamics, obstacles and levers involved, and to draw useful lessons for the French Red Cross and all crisis management actors.
Humanitarian or social context and issues
The territory of Mayotte is characterised by significant social, economic and territorial vulnerabilities resulting from rapid population growth, intense regional migration dynamics and structural inequalities in access to resources, public services and housing. Added to this is institutional fragility, marked by under-resourced local authorities that are insufficiently prepared to respond to emergencies in a coordinated and effective manner. These pre-existing vulnerabilities increase the exposure of a significant part of the population to natural hazards, particularly cyclones. The passage of Cyclone Chido served to reveal and amplify these vulnerabilities. Beyond the material damage, the disaster created immediate humanitarian needs in terms of shelter, access to water, food, healthcare and security. To respond to these emergencies, the population – residents, informal groups, local associations and solidarity networks – spontaneously mobilised to help each other and, in general, played a leading role in providing assistance, particularly in supporting municipalities overwhelmed by the scale of the event.
However, on another scale, particularly in slums, these mobilisations have shown their limitations. For socio-economic and administrative reasons, but above all economic reasons, individual survival strategies have often prevailed, giving rise to an ‘every man for himself’ mentality. The question of the sustainability of these mobilisations is therefore a major challenge, both for the reconstruction phase and for improving future responses to disasters. The analysis of these dynamics raises essential scientific and operational issues: rethinking the relationship between institutional humanitarian action and local initiatives, adapting risk management policies to the socio-territorial realities of Mayotte, and recognising the role of spontaneous mobilisations as potential catalysts for longer-term social and territorial transformations.
This research aims to analyse the dynamics of mobilisation, cooperation and coordination observed during the response to Cyclone Chido in Mayotte, in a context of high social, economic and territorial vulnerabilities. The objective is to understand how these practices contributed to meeting immediate humanitarian needs and mitigating, or conversely reproducing, pre-existing social inequalities, in order to draw lessons for improving crisis management in Mayotte and similar contexts.
More specifically, this will involve:
- Documenting the humanitarian response to Cyclone Chido, tracing the main stages of mobilisation, from emergency to stabilisation, and taking into account territorial and social disparities (formal neighbourhoods versus shanty towns).
- Analysing intra-organisational coordination within the French Red Cross, between volunteers, employees, local delegations and external reinforcements, to identify the factors that promoted or limited the effectiveness of the aid.
- Studying inter-organisational cooperation with the State, local authorities, NGOs and local associations, as well as spontaneous mobilisations, in order to understand how these interactions made it possible to respond to humanitarian needs and what tensions or limitations emerged.
- Identifying operational and strategic lessons to strengthen the sustainability, effectiveness and equity of disaster response mechanisms, while promoting the role of local initiatives as catalysts for social and territorial transformation.
These objectives combine an analytical and operational approach directly linked to the humanitarian and social issues identified: they aim to understand existing practices and propose ways to better coordinate institutional action and local initiatives in a context marked by multiple vulnerabilities and social inequalities.
How was humanitarian coordination organised in Mayotte during Cyclone Chido, and which actors played a key role? What interactions and synergies were established between NGOs, local institutions and national authorities in managing the crisis? How did the geographical, social and logistical constraints specific to Mayotte influence the effectiveness of the humanitarian response?
Field of research and methodology
The fieldwork for this research was conducted in Mayotte, a French overseas territory characterised by high population density, rapid demographic growth and significant inequalities in access to resources, public services and housing. The territory combines formal neighbourhoods, which are better integrated into infrastructure and institutional systems, with informal neighbourhoods or slums, which are characterised by precariousness and administrative constraints.
The population studied includes:
- Residents of formal neighbourhoods, who are more likely to participate in collective mobilisations and institutional initiatives.
- Residents of informal neighbourhoods, who are often more vulnerable and whose spontaneous solidarity is limited by economic and administrative constraints.
- Institutional and associative actors (French Red Cross, local NGOs, local authorities, government services) involved in crisis management.
The field presents several challenges for research: sometimes difficult access to informal areas, social and administrative diversity, and the need to collect data ethically from vulnerable populations. Mayotte thus offers a rich field for studying disaster response, spontaneous mobilisation and coordination of actors in the face of social and territorial vulnerabilities.
To carry out our research, a qualitative approach was favoured in order to understand the dynamics of mobilisation, coordination and cooperation during Cyclone Chido. The methodology combines:
- Documentary analysis: official reports, intervention assessments, institutional communications and association publications relating to crisis management.
- Multimedia content analysis: videos, photos and recordings made during the cyclone, to observe spontaneous mobilisation and the organisation of relief efforts.
- Semi-structured interviews: with key actors (volunteers and employees of the French Red Cross, representatives of NGOs, local authorities and members of association networks) to understand the logic behind cooperation and coordination.
The scientific benefits of research for humanitarian and social actors
This research provides humanitarian and social actors with practical lessons on disaster management in vulnerable and unequal contexts such as Mayotte. By documenting spontaneous mobilisations, cooperation dynamics and obstacles to effectiveness, it provides a better understanding of how to coordinate local initiatives and institutional mechanisms. The results help identify strategies to strengthen coordination, improve the responsiveness of interventions and ensure more equitable aid, particularly in the most precarious areas. They thus contribute to optimising operational practices and strengthening the resilience of populations in the face of disasters.
This research contributes to a better understanding of natural disaster management in a vulnerable island context such as Mayotte. It combines an analysis of social, economic and territorial vulnerabilities with a study of spontaneous mobilisation and coordination between institutional actors and local initiatives. While existing literature often focuses on institutional mechanisms, this study highlights the role of local populations and networks in crisis response, and how pre-existing inequalities influence the effectiveness and sustainability of interventions. By analysing cooperation practices and the limitations observed in different contexts (formal neighbourhoods vs. slums), the research provides scientific insights into vulnerability, resilience and social mobilisation in disaster situations. It also proposes operational approaches for adapting risk management systems to local realities, strengthening coordination between actors, and promoting spontaneous mobilisation as a catalyst for long-term social and territorial transformation.
Biography
Fahad Idaroussi Tsimanda is a geographer. His thesis focused on the vulnerability of Comorian migrants residing legally or illegally in Mayotte, going beyond simple factors of exposure to natural hazards (physical and material vulnerability) and incorporating historical, social, economic, political and cultural perspectives. His research also questions the effectiveness of institutional risk and crisis management mechanisms designed in mainland France and imposed on a developing territory with characteristics that differ significantly from those of other French territories, particularly in terms of local development, territorial approaches to land use, rights of access to resources, and adaptation practices and strategies.
Photo credit : Fahad Idaroussi