nd Rabarisoa of Toamasina. Entire neighborhoods have been flattened, roads are washed out and many communities remain isolated. We are racing against time to rescue and assist affected residents. Government disaster management teams and local authorities have mobilized emergency shelters but relief efforts are hampered by flooded roads, collapsed bridges and landslides. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said thousands have fled their homes with many taking refuge in schools and community centers. Cyclone Gezani follows another destructive storm that hit the region in recent weeks, compounding the strain on Madagascar’s disaster response system. Humanitarian agencies have called for urgent international support, citing the urgent need for food, water and medical supplies. In Toamasina, Madagascar’s main port shipping operations have been severely disrupted. The port is largely non-operational said a local shipping official, requesting anonymity. This will affect trade and the delivery of essential supplies for weeks. Experts warn that Madagascar’s vulnerability to tropical cyclones is increasing due to climate change which intensifies storm severity and rainfall patterns. President Andry Rajoelina has pledged government assistance and urged international partners to support relief operations. Our priority is saving lives and restoring essential services, he said in a statement . Authorities continue search and rescue operations across the hardest hit areas, while emergency teams assess the full scale of damage. Source: Madagascar Red Cross