Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS), an affiliate of the Aga Khan Development Network, has decided to expand its emergency relief intervention into education and health care support to serve some of the more than 200,000 people affected by Cyclone Gafilo in northern Madagascar, according to a press released issued on Monday.
The intervention is part of the commitment of US $100,000 made by His Highness the Aga Khan in his message of sympathy to President Marc Ravalomanana following the cyclone.
Responding to urgent needs, FOCUS - in partnership with the Conseil National de Secours (CNS), (the Government of Madagascar's national disaster agency), Catholic Relief Services, UNICEF and other agencies - has already transported provisions and education support material by truck and boat to some of the most remote parts of Majunga province.
"Work has commenced on responding in a preventive manner to the very high risk of widespread water-borne disease, in co-ordination with other local and international agencies, said Pinou Cheraly, FOCUS's representative in Majunga, "we have already begun to identify needs in the education sector and to plan solutions involving targeted material assistance."-PR