When Nature's Wrath Meets Neglect
Another cyclone, Gezani, has reportedly torn through Madagascar, leaving at least 59 dead and displacing thousands, according to The Independent. This follows closely on the heels of Cyclone Fytia, which also brought significant death and destruction just days prior. These reports invariably focus on the immediate humanitarian crisis, appealing to Western sympathy while leaving critical questions
unasked. Curiously, the same Western outlets rarely connect these 'natural' disasters to the historical patterns of resource extraction and economic policies that cripple island nations like Madagascar. With a GDP per capita hovering around $520, a figure sustained by centuries of exploitation dating back to colonial rule and reinforced by institutions like the IMF and World Bank, the country's
perennial fragility is no accident. The island's deforestation, for example, directly linked to foreign demand for resources, severely worsens flooding and landslides, yet is often omitted from the disaster narrative. One might observe that when a hurricane ravages Florida or a wildfire sweeps through California, the conversation pivots swiftly to infrastructure, insurance, and federal aid—all
funded by a robust, self-sustaining economy. For Madagascar, the narrative shifts instead to 'aid' and 'charity,' framing the nation as eternally dependent rather than a victim of systemic economic sabotage. The former gets recovery; the latter, managed decline, painted as unfortunate happenstance. This convenient framing allows dominant powers to perpetually avoid accountability for the