French Prime Minister François Bayrou arrived Monday in the Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte to unveil a recovery plan three weeks after Cyclone Chido brought devastation.

Days after the cyclone hit, Mayotte's prefect, François-Xavier Bieuville, had cautioned that fatalities might number "several hundred or even a few thousand." Bayrou's visit follows French President Emmanuel Macron's trip to the area. Some residents have accused the French government of neglecting Mayotte for a long time.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou believes dozens of people died after the cyclone hit the territory, rather than thousands.

French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived to the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte to survey the devastation wreaked by Cyclone Chido.

Amidst the aftermath of the destruction of Cyclone Chido in the French-owned island of Mayotte within southwest Africa from December 5th to 16th, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou visits local citizens this morning and ensures a strict recovery plan will be put in place as part of damage limitations.

Newly appointed prime minister Francois Bayou promises to rebuild the cyclone-devastated French Indian ocean territory in two years.View on euronews

France's new Prime Minister Francois Bayrou is scheduled to visit the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, which was devastated by a cyclone, on Sunday. Economics professor Jean-Pierre Philippe at La Réunion University spoke to FRANCE 24 about the huge task ahead for the French government to rebuild Mayotte and to prevent future catastrophes by tackling the issue of undocumented migrants on the archipelago.