Madagascar: 90,000 residents seeking refuge from drought between 2018 and 2024

Mis à jour le 22 May 2026

For nearly a decade, Madagascar has been facing an unprecedented climate crisis, marked by chronic drought that is forcing tens of thousands of its inhabitants to abandon their homelands. Between 2018 and 2024, at least 90,000 people, mainly from the Antandroy ethnic group in the south, undertook a mass exodus northward, particularly to the Boeny region, in search of refuge from the degradation of their environment. These migrations, often forced and desperate, reveal a humanitarian crisis whose scale continues to grow. The situation also reveals the inability of the Malagasy authorities to ensure adequate protection, thus exacerbating the urgency of international support. The gravity of the situation underscores the need for concrete actions, uniting all stakeholders around a common project to lay the foundations for a more sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally friendly future. Solidarity in Madagascar must now be part of a dynamic of humanitarian aid and environmental protection to prevent the total collapse of vulnerable communities in the face of climate change.

The root causes of the climate crisis in Madagascar and its direct impacts

Climate change and its devastating effects are the main cause of mass displacement in Madagascar. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as El Niño, are exacerbating the aridity of the local climate. Scientists warn of rising surface temperatures, leading to increased water evaporation and rapid degradation of natural resources. By extension, this situation is causing food shortages, major food insecurity, and a shortage of drinking water, jeopardizing the very survival of rural populations.

The direct impacts of the drought in Madagascar mainly concern:

• 🌡️ The degradation of agricultural land, making sustainable farming impossible.
• 💧 The scarcity of freshwater for human consumption and livestock farming.
• 🍽️ Famine, caused by the loss of essential agricultural crops.
• 🚶 The massive internal migration of populations in search of fertile land and vital resources. ⚠️ The weakening of the social fabric, exacerbated by poverty and the lack of adequate infrastructure.
• The combined effects of these factors fuel a vicious cycle that is impossible to break without urgent and coordinated intervention, highlighting a truly evolving humanitarian crisis.

Discover the impact of drought on our environment, agriculture, and water resources. Learn more about the causes, consequences, and solutions to address this growing problem.

The displacement of Malagasy populations threatened by drought is not a marginal phenomenon, but a reality, according to several NGOs. In 2024, Amnesty International counted more than 90,000 migrants in this internal migration, mainly concentrated between Androy and Boeny. These figures illustrate a worrying trend, where each year, entire families leave desert regions in search of opportunities and better living conditions.

This migratory flow is part of a survival logic where fleeing famine becomes an essential choice. These migrants often undertake journeys that can last several months, on foot or by bus, sometimes selling their last possessions or leaving children behind in the hope of a better future.

The figures for this tragedy in Madagascar highlight a dynamic where humanitarian emergencies take precedence over all other issues. Mass migration further disrupts local social stability, often with dramatic consequences, particularly during integration into new host areas. Furthermore, these movements are rarely supervised by public structures, resulting in a glaring lack of appropriate support. This situation exacerbates the risks of exploitation and marginalization, highlighting the need for Support for Communities in Madagascar to prevent these exoduses from leading to a lasting crisis.

Discover the impact of drought on the environment and agriculture, as well as adaptation and water resource management strategies. Learn about the causes, consequences, and solutions to address this growing phenomenon. The challenges faced by migrants in their search for refuge Migrants from Madagascar, often destitute and vulnerable, face numerous obstacles in a landscape marked by ecological devastation. The 1,500 km crossing between south and north is fraught with major challenges, exacerbated by insufficient civilian and support infrastructure.

🚧 A shortage of passable roads, with areas degraded or impassable.

👥 The weakness of Madagascar’s humanitarian aid systems, often leaving these populations at the mercy of their own fate.

🏥 Difficulty accessing adequate health facilities for displaced populations.

1. 🍽️ Increased food insecurity along the journey, particularly for children and pregnant women.
2. 🛑 Vulnerability to exploitation, particularly by traffickers or unscrupulous employers. The stories of these migrants testify to a journey filled with extreme sacrifices, where each stage carries its share of risks and uncertainties. The precarious reception conditions and the lack of a solid institutional framework exacerbate their distress and isolation. These factors make an appropriate humanitarian response imperative, with a genuine Madagascar refuge to ensure sustainable support for these displaced populations.
3. The Malagasy authorities’ response to this humanitarian crisis
4. The weakness of institutional responses to the climate crisis in Madagascar is alarming many international actors. The situation of Madagascar’s refugees is particularly worrying, as the lack of coherent strategies prevents any effective support. The majority of local authorities are unable to provide shelter, food, or healthcare due to a lack of sufficient financial resources.
5. This sense of helplessness is compounded by the lack of a genuine national climate emergency plan capable of addressing mass displacement. According to Amnesty International, this inaction is contributing to a dark chapter in Malagasy governance in the face of the ecological crisis. The international community must therefore commit more firmly to supporting local efforts and supporting Solidarity Madagascar for more humane and effective management. Given the immense needs, it is now essential to strengthen cooperation, develop adaptive responses, and boost environmental protection in Madagascar to ensure the sustainability of these efforts. Local and International Initiatives to Address the Crisis Given the scale of the crisis, several humanitarian and government organizations are attempting to respond. However, the scope of these actions is still far from sufficient to address the emergency. Programs such as Support for Farmers in Madagascar work to improve community resilience by promoting agroecology and crop diversification. Furthermore, environmental protection projects in Madagascar aim to restore degraded areas.

Priority actions include: 🌍 Mobilizing international funding for the implementation of a sustainable recovery plan. 👩‍🔬 Raising awareness and training local populations on water management and sustainable agriculture.

🛠️ Creating mobile health centers to provide emergency assistance as close as possible to disaster areas.

🤝 Coordinating NGOs, government institutions, and local stakeholders to achieve a unified effort. 🌱 Resuming initiatives to protect fragile ecosystems, particularly the Ankarafantsika National Park. International support must be part of a spirit of solidarity with Madagascar, integrating ecological, humanitarian, and economic dimensions to provide a lasting response to this tragedy.

Long-term actions: building a sustainable future in the face of the climate crisis The current context requires strategies resolutely focused on prevention and resilience. Combating drought in Madagascar must be part of a sustainable development approach, particularly promoting:Priority areas Details 🌍 Strengthening irrigation systems

Investing in modern infrastructure to optimize water use.

💧 Sustainable management of natural resources

Implement policies to preserve forests and wetlands. 🤝 International partnerships Mobilize the international community to finance resilience projects.

📚 Education and awareness-raising

• Training populations to adopt agricultural techniques adapted to climate change. 🛡️ Strengthening climate governance
• Institutionalize a legal and operational framework for environmental crisis management.
• These efforts must be accompanied by collective mobilization so that Madagascar becomes a symbol of hope and a future in the face of the global climate crisis.
• International solidarity: a driving force to protect Madagascar
• Given the scale of this crisis, international solidarity appears to be an essential lever to save vulnerable populations. The global community must act without delay to provide concrete support to Madagascar’s refugees and strengthen environmental protection in Madagascar. Humanitarian operations must be supported by appropriate funding, in partnership with organizations such as the UN system in Madagascar.

Initiatives must also include training local stakeholders and the deployment of Madagascar Refuge projects.

and strategic coordination. International mobilization around a truly united effort would help curb this worrying increase in climate-induced migration and ensure the protection of vulnerable populations.

It is clear that if each actor assumes its responsibilities, it will be possible to act for Madagascar