MADAGASCAR 2.0!

We’re going back!

Located off the southeast coast of Africa, Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world.  It has been the inspiration for many documentaries and films over the years and is arguably one of the most unique and interesting locations on Earth.  Madagascar is perhaps best-known for its massive baobab trees — and of course, for its lemurs….although we had to go to a zoo during our last days there in 2022 to see them (they are not prevalent in the drought stricken south). The island is also home to the Tuléar reef, the world’s third-largest coral reef system, making Madagascar one of the top scuba diving destinations in Africa.  A few more interesting facts about the island, its people, and its culture…..

• Most of Madagascar’s wildlife is not found anywhere else on earth
• Madagascar was settled by Asians before mainland Africans
• Lemurs were once considered a sacred animal that was honored and respected.
• Before French colonial rule, Madagascar was ruled by a woman – Queen Ranavalona III, the last sovereign of the Kingdom of Madagascar, who ruled from 1883 to 1897, before being deposed by French colonial forces.

But there’s so much more to the story….

Madagascar is a low-income country with a population of approximately 26 million. The country is ranked 173^rd out of 191 on the 2022 Human Development Index.   93% of the Malagasy population live on less than the World Bank’s poverty line of $3.10 per day, and 80% live on less than $1.90!  Five million people are affected by recurring natural disasters, including cyclones, floods, and droughts. The rate of chronic malnutrition is 42 percent, placing it as the 10th worst country affected by stunting in the world.  Ambovombe-Androy in the south is the district that is most affected by these events. 

Although World Renew has been active in the southern part of Madagascar since 2015, most recently, four consecutive years of severe drought in the Grand Sud of Madagascar have wiped out harvests and cut off peoples’ access to food.  The result is that the country is experiencing the worst food crisis in the last 20 years, exacerbating the vulnerabilities of already poor populations.  The crisis is further aggravated by poor health, the absence of adequate sanitation facilities, and a lack of water.

The situation continues to be compounded by the ongoing effects of market supply disruptions, rising commodity prices (rice, maize, vegetables, pesticides, fertilizers and fuel), and a general decline in income and employment opportunities. Armyworm attacks have also been prevalent in the Grand Sud on numerous crops of the previous agricultural season, resulting in significant food losses for households.

This past September, 100 Huntley Street and their film crew travelled to this area, along with Jamie McIntosh, World Renew Canada’s Executive Director. The result was a ½ hour program that was broadcast on YES TV.  The following link will take you to short excerpt from that program and provide some insight into the gravity of the situation the people are facing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs6D5OI3Yzo

In response to the ongoing food insecurity, World Renew and its partner in Madagascar has found it necessary to once again implement an emergency response project funded by CFGB. 

This project targets 2,000 of the most vulnerable families in the very southern Ambovombe area.  During this, the leanest season of the year, food stocks are lowest or non-existent.  For a 5 month period which started in October, each family is receiving 60 kg of rice, 10 kg of beans, and 4 litres of oil each month.  This assistance will hopefully bridge the gap for these families until their next harvest.  

On January 5 we will be travelling to Madagascar for a 5-week assignment.  We are excited about the opportunity to be with the same team we had the privilege to work with in the Fall of 2022! 

Our first few days will be spent with World Renew’s partner in the Capital, Antananarivo, and then we will fly to Taolagnaro in the south and travel by land to the Ambovombe area where we will spend the duration of our assignment.  Although we will be assisting the partner as they continue to implement the project, the bulk of our time will be spent in collecting, analyzing, and compiling the data that is necessary to prepare a comprehensive end of project report on this project.  Since the project does not conclude until the end of February, we will complete the balance of our assignment upon our return home. 

Since internet access and electricity is frequently intermittent in the area where we will be living, we are unsure about our ability to provide updated postings to this blog. 

As with any assignment, and although we have been in Madagascar previously, we always embark on each one with both anticipation and concern for how things will unfold this time.  However, we also do so with a strong conviction that God has called us to serve in this manner and will supply all our needs.

As always, we solicit and appreciate your prayer support.