Three cyclones hit Madagascar during the 2007-08 season: Fame, Evan, and Jokwe. These category three and four cyclones hit between January 27th and March 8th leading to severe rain and flooding over the entire country. In particular, the cyclones Fame and Ivan crisscrossed the country and affected 17 of 22 regions. The conjunction of these events affected 342,000 people out of a total population estimated in 2008 at over 19 million. Among those affected, 191,404 lost their homes and over 100 people died.
On March 11, 2008, the Prime Minister of Madagascar requested the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) to expedite an assessment of the damages, losses and post-disaster needs. National Risk Management Bureau (BNGRC) and Disaster Preparedness Unit (CPGU) were appointed as the nodal agencies in collaboration with the World Bank and the United Nations System, the European Union, and the CRIC partners. A Joint Damage, Loss and Needs Assessment (JDLNA) was undertaken to assess damages and losses in infrastructure, productive, and social sectors, and to identify requirements for recovery and reconstruction. The JDLNA build on the information collected by the government agencies, UN agencies, and NGOs in the immediate days after the disaster.
Based on the JDLNA, the total value of the disaster effects caused by the 2008 cyclones was estimated at US$ 333 million, equivalent to 4% of country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Damage and losses were concentrated in the agriculture, fisheries and livestock sector (US$ 103.0 million), the housing and public administration sector (US $127.6 million) and the transport sector (US $45.7 million). The housing sector sustained primarily damages, whereas the agricultural sector saw an overwhelming majority as losses. Financial requirements to address the most immediate as well as the long-term recovery and reconstruction needs were assessed at US $154.8 million. The estimated total needs for risk reduction include the costs of (i) development of cyclone-proof norms and standards (US $ 354,200), and (ii) the costs of training and early warning materials (US$6.1 million). US $0.3 million were estimated for developing coordination capacity for the early recovery program at the national, regional and local levels.