The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the European Union (EU) have officially handed over Madagascar’s first humanitarian hub to the government, located in the eastern city of Manakara. The hub aims to strengthen the country’s emergency preparedness and response, particularly for the cyclone-prone eastern and southern coasts. It will allow essential supplies like food and medicine to be prepositioned, enabling faster response times during crises and ultimately saving lives.
Funded with EUR 600,000 from the EU and an additional EUR 200,000 from WFP, the hub includes two steel mobile storage units with a combined capacity of 1,000 metric tons and four office units accommodating up to eight people. This infrastructure ensures that humanitarian supplies are readily available for rapid deployment during emergencies.
The EU emphasizes a proactive approach to disaster management, focusing on anticipating, preventing, and reducing the impact of crises rather than only reacting after they occur. Madagascar, being one of Africa’s most storm-prone countries, faced multiple tropical storms and cyclones during the 2024-25 season, resulting in fatalities, injuries, displacement, and widespread damage to homes, roads, crops, and livestock.
The hub represents a significant step toward strengthening national emergency preparedness and response. It follows a community-centered and results-driven approach, ensuring faster, coordinated, and effective humanitarian action. The Malagasy government, supported by its partners, is committed to providing tailored and sustainable assistance to the most vulnerable populations.
Managed by the government, the hub is open to all members of the humanitarian community and aligns with the national emergency coordination policy. It provides critical infrastructure to preposition essential supplies for rapid access, particularly to people in remote and crisis-affected areas. The EU has been a major contributor to WFP in Madagascar, supporting over USD 29 million in humanitarian and development initiatives, including backing the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) since 2020.
