Photo by COP29 via www.unocha.org/
By Newz.Africa Climate Desk | Manakara, Madagascar | 21 January 2026 | Updated: 23:55 EAT | Madagascar humanitarian hub
Madagascar has officially launched its first humanitarian hub. It is backed by the European Union and the United Nations World Food Programme. This move aims to strengthen the country’s emergency preparedness and response to cyclones, floods, and other climate-related disasters. [reliefweb.int]
The hub is located in the eastern coastal city of Manakara. It was handed over to the Malagasy government on Monday. It is expected to significantly reduce response times during emergencies. These emergencies affect the island’s cyclone-prone eastern and southern regions. [wfp.org]
Madagascar humanitarian hub strengthens disaster readiness
The facility will allow humanitarian partners and national authorities to pre‑position food. They can also pre-position medicines and other essential supplies before disasters strike, according to WFP. This will improve coordination and ensure faster access to affected communities.
The project has received €600,000 in funding from the European Union, with an additional €200,000 contribution from WFP. The hub consists of two mobile steel storage units with a combined capacity of 1,000 metric tonnes. It also includes four office units that can accommodate up to eight staff members during emergency operations.
Tania Goossens, WFP’s country director in Madagascar, said the hub would help save lives. It will enable quicker responses to extreme weather events. These events have increased in frequency and severity in recent years.
Focus on anticipatory action
EU Ambassador to Madagascar Roland Kobia said the initiative reflects a shift toward anticipatory action rather than reactive humanitarian response. He noted that investing in preparedness and early response infrastructure can prevent disasters from escalating into large‑scale humanitarian crises.
Madagascar is among Africa’s most storm‑exposed countries. During the 2024–2025 cyclone season, several tropical storms and cyclones caused deaths. They led to displacement and caused extensive damage to homes, crops, and critical infrastructure across the island.
Government‑led coordination
The hub will be managed by the Malagasy government and made available to all humanitarian actors operating in the country. It supports national emergency coordination policy. It strengthens logistics capacity. It also enables rapid deployment of assistance to remote and high‑risk areas.
General Gabriel Ramanantsoa leads Madagascar’s National Office for Risk and Disaster Management. He described the hub as a key milestone in improving national readiness. It ensures faster, more coordinated responses to future emergencies. [wfp.org]
The EU has been a major partner in Madagascar’s humanitarian efforts. It has contributed more than $29 million in humanitarian and development support through WFP. Additionally, it has backed logistics services such as the UN Humanitarian Air Service since 2020.
Alt text (hero image): EU and WFP‑funded humanitarian hub launches in Manakara to boost emergency response in Madagascar
Original Reporting
- Verified funding amounts, location and facility specifications.
- Cross‑checked statements from WFP, the European Union and Malagasy disaster authorities.
Primary artefact
- World Food Programme press release announcing the handover of the Manakara humanitarian hub.
Outreach log
- Statements from WFP Madagascar reviewed.
- EU delegation remarks cited from official release.
Sources:
- World Food Programme [wfp.org]
- ReliefWeb [reliefweb.int]
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