1.
AV FLOODED AREA
0.16

2.
SV INT. AIRCRAFT, CREW PREPARE TO PARACHUTE SUPPLIES
0.24

3.
AV FLYING OVER BUILDINGS
0.42

4.
SCU INT. AIRCRAFT, SUPPLIES BEING DROPPED
0.48

5.
AV OVER BUILDINGS
0.59

6.
AV FLOODED AREA
1.15



Initials SAW/VS/MR/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MALAGASY REPUBLIC ARMY AIRCRAFT DROPPED SUPPLIES ON WEDNESDAY (25 FEB) TO THOUSANDS RENDERED HOMELESS BY FLOODING ALONG THE EAST COAST OF MADAGASCAR FOLLOWING CYCLONE "JANE".

THE CYCLONE STRUCK THE ISLAND EARLIER THIS WEEK AND SEVENTEEN PEOPLE WERE REPORTED KILLED. VILLAGES WERE DESTROYED AND WITH COMMUNICATIONS ON THE GROUND CUT OFF AIRCRAFT WERE THE ONLY MEANS OF BRINGING RELIEF SUPPLIES OF FOOD AND MEDICINE TO SOME AREAS.

AT THE HEIGHT OF THE CYCLONE WINDS REACHED SPEEDS OF MORE THAN 100 MILES-PER-HOUR (160 KPH) TEARING UP TREES AND CUTTING ROAD LINKS.

ONE VILLAGE OF 1400 PEOPLE WAS ENTIRELY DESTROYED IN THE STORM AFTER BEING REBUILT FOLLOWING A CYCLONE LAST YEAR.