An appeal for humanitarian assistance for Madagascar was launched during a joint press conference by the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) and Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS) at the Seychelles Defence Forces Headquarters at Bel-Eau this morning.
SDF Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel (rtd) Louis Agathine, Public Relations Officer Lieutenant Colonel Archil Mondon, and Secretary General of the RCSS National Committee Mrs. Marie-May Esparon provided the media houses present with a detailed brief about the purpose of this appeal and the impact that it would have for the people of Madagascar.
The SDF will be deploying one of its Naval Assets, Auxillary Vessel Saya de Malha, to participate in a regional military exercise in Mahajenga, Madagascar in mid April 2025. This has provided the RCSS with an opportune moment to be able to send the donation of humanitarian assistance free of charge, and subsequently hand them over to the Malagasy Red Cross. This partnership follows the signing of an MoU between SDF and RCSS signed in November 2024, which formalised the cooperation and exchange between the two entities.
Two tropical disasters, primarily Cyclone Elvis and Cyclone Faida, recently struck Madagascar and assistance is urgently needed for the local population in the impacted areas. Ms. Esparon highlighted that this year’s collection will not include items of clothing; rather the focus of the donations would be on food items. Both sides have urged the general population as well as businesses to be generous and donate for a good cause.
A similar undertaking was done in 2022 where SDF vessel transported and delivered over 12 tons of humanitarian aid to Madagascar on behalf of the RCSS.
