Charles Luylier (in Mayotte) / Photo credits: Chafion MADI / AFP 7:22 a.m., February 15, 2024

The citizen collectives of Mayotte announced on Wednesday the maintenance for "a few more days" of the dams which are paralyzing the poorest department in France, despite the written commitments of Gérald Darmanin to act against insecurity and uncontrolled immigration on the island. . In addition to these subjects, the other important issue concerns the water crisis in homes.

In Mayotte, the dams will be maintained for "a few more days" in Mayotte, despite the written commitments of Gérald Darmanin. In a three-page text, the Minister of the Interior sets out in writing his promises made on Sunday during his trip to the Indian Ocean island to emerge from three weeks of social crisis on the archipelago. In this letter, sent this Wednesday to the citizen groups blocking the island, Gérald Darmanin confirms the end of land law, the launch of operation Wuambushu II, and the end of the territorialized residence permit. 

In addition to massive immigration, the other important subject in Mayotte concerns the water crisis in homes. Due to unprecedented drought and the dilapidation of the network, the taps regularly run dry. On site, the D system is essential.

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“I shower with a pan”

Mélanie, a 48-year-old civil servant, does not have water every other day. Showering is therefore an ordeal. “I shower with a saucepan, I have a large 140 liter trash can and I shower with the water that I have stored in my trash can... I do with what I have,” she says at the microphone of Europe 1. For Ibrahim, it is also complicated to go to the toilet. He can't flush the toilet. “When we relieve ourselves, we take the bucket, we pour water into the basin but it stinks, it’s no life!”, he exclaims.

“Water packs for 12 euros”

And when the water flows, it is not always drinkable. The State therefore capped the price of a pack of bottled water at four euros last year, but the barriers in place for three weeks are causing shortages in supermarkets. And there are many crisis profiteers, explains Racha Mousdikoudine, president of the Mayotte a soif collective. “We have intermediary sellers who will resell the packs of water purchased in the store at the highest price. Packs for 10 euros, 12 euros! We have alerted the State on this to avoid any fraud,” he says. -She.

The water crisis is one of the major projects of the new prefect, just appointed Wednesday in Mayotte.