France Télévisions is shaking up its programs. More than two days after the deadly passage of Cyclone Chido in Mayotte, France 2 will offer Tuesday evening an evening “of support and solidarity for reconstruction and aid to devastated populations”, live.
“This mobilization will take place as part of the call for solidarity orchestrated by the Fondation de France, widely relayed on the group’s channels since this evening,” specifies the public group.
This evening will combine reports discussing the situation on site, in collaboration with the national editorial teams as well as overseas branches. Several artists will be mobilized for the occasion, like Marc Lavoine, Nolwenn Leroy, Raphaël, Thomas Dutronc, Ycare, Kimberose, Cali, Meïtod and the Franco-Georgian pianist Khatia Buniatishvili, have already given their agreement. The presenters are not yet known.
The historic television show “Let yourself be guided”, initially planned, will be canceled and will be broadcast at a later date, France Télévisions also points out.
A “devastated” island
“The island is completely devastated. Precarious housing, slums, nothing remains of them,” declared Monday evening the resigning Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau, returning to Reunion after a visit “to the heart of the disaster” in Mayotte, alongside notably his Overseas colleague François-Noël Buffet.
The authorities fear “several hundred” deaths, perhaps “a few thousand”, but the minister refused to make any “prognosis”, stressing that it “will take days and days” before having a real toll. .
The first twenty-five medical evacuations of patients in emergency situations were carried out on Monday between Mayotte and Reunion, a territory 1,400 km away with which an air and sea bridge was deployed. The resigning Minister of Health Geneviève Darrieussecq speaks of a “very degraded” situation in the healthcare system with a “very damaged” hospital and “inoperative” medical centers.
A total of 800 civil security personnel were sent as reinforcements, with a field hospital, while a second detachment of 150 firefighters and rescuers reached the archipelago on Monday evening. EDF also sent reinforcements to restore access to power and rebuild the electricity network.
In total, 1,500 civilian and military personnel are being transported, including 400 gendarmes and 13 planes are engaged for this airlift, according to state services.