AFRICA/MADAGASCAR-"I thank all people of good will who are close to us," says the Bishop of Moramanga after a visit to the places affected by the cyclone

Moramanga (Agenzia Fides) - According to data released by the National Office, there are at least 200,000 people affected by the passage of Cyclone Storm Giovanna on February 13th (see Fides 14/02/2012; 16/02/2012; 17/02/2012), about 40 000 are those forced to flee their homes because of heavy flooding, while the winds and rains have destroyed about 8,475 homes and 4,230 other houses have been completely demolished. The cyclone, category four, caused also at least 17 deaths and 77 wounded and four people are missing. More than 100 schools, hospitals, churches and offices have been damaged. "Finally I managed to get to Andasibe - wrote to Fides the Bishop of Moramanga, His Exc. Mgr. Gaetano Di Pierro - because as a result of the flooding, created by the cyclone, it was impossible to reach the village located 140 km from Antananarivo, in the east of Madagascar. I got to meet with the mayor of the village. Some leaders of the Catholique Relief Services (CRS) have arrived, with whom we have started to assess the damage and to think over the strategy to put into action concerning the eventual distribution of aid that can reach people. With these leaders we have also visited the city of Moramanga. I thank all people of good will who are close to us especially through prayer. Thank you on my behalf and from the entire citizenry of Moramanga and all the faithful of my diocese", concluded Msgr. Di Pierro (AP) (Agenzia Fides 20/2/2012)