Lives in: Moroni, Comoros
In response to increasing climate threats — from cyclones to sea-level rise — the Union of the Comoros has adopted a strengthened national disaster-risk reduction framework, aiming to safeguard infrastructure, communities and livelihoods across the archipelago. The plan comes months after the destructive passage of Cyclone Chido, which devastated several islands, destroyed homes and crops, and exposed deep fragilities in disaster preparedness.
Jaco Maritz spoke with disaster-management officials, climate experts, and affected community leaders across Comoros to analyse what the resilience plan entails, communities’ readiness, and the challenges ahead.
A New Strategy for a Fragile Archipelago
The updated disaster-risk reduction (DRR) framework — first mapped in 2021 and formalized in 2024 under new legislation — creates a national institutional architecture for anticipating, managing, and recovering from climate disasters. A key component is the newly established National Emergency and Resilience Fund (FNUR), designed to finance early warning systems, emergency response, reconstruction, and long-term resilience investments.
Officials say the law clarifies roles across ministries, regional authorities and civil-society partners. It also mandates climate-smart infrastructure design, coastal protections, and community-level disaster training — essential for a country where over half the population lives in climate-vulnerable zones.
From Cyclone Chido’s Wake to Urgent Action
When Cyclone Chido struck in December 2024, it flattened homes, washed away farmland, and disrupted food supplies on the islands of Anjouan and Mohéli. Many inhabitants, especially smallholder farmers, lost both shelter and livelihoods.
Anjouan community elder, Ali Athoumane, recalls:
“We had nothing left — our crops gone, houses destroyed. But no help came until weeks later. We cannot face another storm unprepared.”
That disaster became a turning point. Under the new DRR law, Comoros pledged to build early-warning systems, distribute resources to vulnerable communities, and integrate disaster risk reduction in national development planning.
What the Resilience Plan Includes
Early-warning networks and community drills — to alert residents ahead of storms or floods.
Coastal protection & climate-smart infrastructure — updated building codes, flood-resistant housing, and sustainable land-use planning.
Emergency relief & recovery fund (FNUR) — to finance rapid response, reconstruction and social support.
Focus on youth, children & vulnerable groups — including collaboration with UNICEF to protect children from climate-linked disasters, ensuring water, sanitation, health and shelter services resilience.
Why It’s Critical — And the Challenges Ahead
Comoros — like many small-island developing states — sits on the frontline of climate change. Rising seas, more frequent and intense cyclones, unpredictable rainfall and coastal erosion all threaten infrastructure, livelihoods and survival.
While the new law represents progress, key challenges remain: securing consistent funding, building technical capacity, ensuring equitable distribution of aid, and maintaining long-term resilience without external disruption. Some rural areas remain remote and difficult to reach in emergencies, while awareness of the new policies is still limited among many islanders.
As one local volunteer put it:
“Having a law is good. But we need real help and proper preparation — otherwise the next storm will catch us unready.”
