Cyclone-hit Mayotte reopens airport but displaced families remain in limbo

A young girl walks in the Kaweni slum on the outskirts of Mamoudzou, devastated by the cyclone. Homeless families who've been living in temporary shelters such as schools now have to move out. AP - Adrienne Surprenant

Mayotte’s airport has reopened to commercial flights, allowing civilians to return to the French Indian Ocean archipelago more than two weeks after it was devastated by Cyclone Chido. Thousands of families who lost their homes in the storm are being forced to leave emergency shelters but have nowhere to go.

Until now, only military or state-chartered planes were authorised to land in Mayotte, delivering humanitarian aid and personnel. As of Wednesday, the five airlines that operated before the cyclone will gradually resume services.