Madagascar called Monday for international aid after cyclone Gafilo wreaked havoc in the north of the Indian Ocean island nation, leaving at least 55,000 people homeless."In the absence of definitive assessment reports, we can only surmise that Gafilo left significant damage in its wake," said Foreign Minister Marcel Ranjeva at a meeting with foreign diplomats, donors and other international organisations based in the island.
"Faced with this situation, and contrary to the norm, we are appealing to you to show solidarity... even as the cyclone is still on the island and damage assessment has not been finished," he said.
"We believe there will be between 55,000 and 100,000 homeless, and that figure includes those who have not yet recovered from Elita," another storm which hit northern Madagascar last month, said Interior Minister General Soja (Note Eds: no first name).
"We still have only very incomplete reports on damage because communication is very difficult," said Soja.
"In addition to the usual needs -- tents, medicine, basic commodities -- it is proving necessary to ask for transport facilities, with air transport taking priority," said Soja.
Tropical cyclone Galifo hit Madagascar on Sunday with southwesterly winds blowing near the city of Antalaha at 120 kilometers (75 miles) per hour and gusts as high as 180 kilometers per hour, state weather office director Alain Razafimahazo has said.
Early Monday, the storm had blown offshore and out to sea, but it was expected to "turn around and cross the island again, from west to east, in the south of Madagascar", said Razafimahazo.
No deaths had been reported, the national rescue center said Sunday, adding that one person in Antananarivo, the capital of the island, in its central highlands, was injured when a corrugated roof flew off a building.
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