These include the Al-Imdaad Foundation, which contributed aid worth US$100 000 in the form of blankets, water-purification tablets, tents and food hampers, as well as Netcare, which assisted with logistical arrangements.

The Norwegian Government contributed to the humanitarian project by making the transportation of the aid to Madagascar possible.

The two latest tropical disturbances which hit Madagascar last week killed at least 111 people and left 332 204 people homeless, according to the National Office of Risks and Disasters Management.

The highest number of deaths recorded after the passage of Irina was in Ifanadiana district in the southeast of the island country, with 48 reported dead; while Vangaindrano and Farafangana districts, also in the southeast, recorded the most homeless people, with 3 909 and 25 086 respectively.

Nearly 7 056 housing spaces were flooded, 147 were damaged and 1 372 were completely destroyed by Irina, while 3 713 hectares of rice fields and 12 600 crop fields were affected. The data was collected from 103 of the 829 municipalities in the trajectory of Irina.

Cyclone Geralda, which swept through the island country in February 1994, was the last cyclone category 4 before Giovanna. Geralda killed 231 people. Last year, Cyclone Bingiza killed at least 34 people and left 216 000 homeless. In 2010, tropical storm Hubert killed at least 83 people and left nearly 187 000 homeless.

Madagascar enters in the cyclone season from 15 November to 30 April of each year.