Island cyclone aid plea

MADAGASCAR yesterday called for international aid after cyclone Gafilo wreaked havoc in the north of the Indian Ocean island nation, leaving up to 100,000 homeless.

"In the absence of definitive assessment reports, we can only surmise that Gafilo left significant damage in its wake," Foreign Minister Marcel Ranjeva said 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," the minister said.