"Help must arrive quickly." Speaking from Petite-Terre, the smaller island in the French overseas territory of Mayotte that was devastated by Cyclone Chido, with winds measured at 226 km/h, Youssouf Bacar was categorical: "Here, in four days, there will be nothing left to eat."

"The coming days are going to be very difficult," warned the entrepreneur based in the town of Dzaoudzi. "So far, everyone has managed, but in a few days? And, without power, frozen products will no longer be consumable from tomorrow. So, no more reserves. And we can't see anything happening."

The air and sea bridges that will bring thousands of tonnes of food supplies from La Réunion and mainland France? He hadn't heard anything about them. Lacking an internet connection at home, and obliged to climb a hill to get a signal, the owner of a dozen companies was only able to get snippets of information. "I only learned this morning [Tuesday] that three ministers were here yesterday," said Bacar, who was also busy repairing the roofs of his house and guest rooms, torn off by the winds when they were set in concrete.

You have 84.57% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.