By Ethan Wong

In December 2024, the Military Responses to Climate Hazards (MiRCH) identified 4 military deployments regarding climate-related disasters. 

On December 14, Tropical Cyclone Chido struck the French overseas department of Mayotte off the coast of southeast Africa as a category 4 storm before continuing on toward Mozambique and Malawi. The cyclone was the strongest storm to hit Mayotte in over 90 years and brought near-total destruction to the island. In response to the overwhelming damage, the French military deployed hundreds of personnel to the territory to distribute emergency supplies and support rescue and recovery operations. French military aircraft and naval vessels also delivered hundreds of tons of aid and equipment to Mayotte, including food, water, and other critical provisions. Meanwhile, in Malawi, search and rescue teams that included members of the Malawi Defence Force were placed on standby in preparation for Cyclone Chido.

The devastating impacts of Cyclone Chido on Mayotte highlight the growing climate insecurities on the overseas department and other island territories as global temperatures increase. For example, in September 2023, sustained drought amplified by climate change triggered an unprecedented water crisis on Mayotte, prompting the deployment of French troops to distribute water to local communities. The situation on Mayotte reflects the challenges of many other island nations, which are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and will likely require greater assistance in response to more frequent and severe climate-related disasters in the future.