19/12/2024 Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
The Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced persons, Oleksii Goncharenko (Ukraine, EC/DA), today made the following statement:
“As the death toll rises following the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido in the French department of Mayotte on Saturday 14 December, I would like to express my solidarity with the people of Mayotte and the authorities dealing with the disaster.
The cyclone has caused immense material destruction and left countless survivors vulnerable and in dire need of assistance. Among them are numerous undocumented migrants who have been particularly impacted, as they were already living in highly precarious conditions within informal settlements. Recent reports suggest that for fear of arrest and deportation, many of them did not seek safety in the shelters foreseen by public authorities and are now avoiding food and aid distributions for the same reason.
Cyclone Chido has aggravated the complex and challenging situation the island has faced in recent years. In this time of crisis, it is crucial that humanitarian principles prevail. Solidarity and cooperation are essential to ensure the dignity of every individual and family touched by this disaster.
All actors involved in the emergency response should ensure that aid reaches everyone in need, particularly those most vulnerable. Furthermore, search and identification efforts for those who have died and gone missing in the last week should extend to all inhabitants of Mayotte regardless of their administrative status, as recommended by the Assembly in its Resolution 2569 (2024).”