Filling the void left by the elimination of USAID to respond to the humanitarian emergency in Africa
Following the cessation of American development aid, Patrick Adam de Villiers, founder and president of the Madagascar Foundation, emphasizes the crucial role of associations and NGOs in addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Africa.
To meet this colossal challenge, the retired businessman, who also served as an advisor to several African heads of state, is developing a hospital ship project designed to assess the needs of populations and provide emergency medical care in areas affected by major health crises.
A critical humanitarian context
USAID – East Africa, which has been particularly affected by the withdrawal of American development aid, is facing a drastic humanitarian crisis. For the island of Madagascar alone, there will be a shortfall of more than $27 million by the end of 2025, as the island has benefited from over $750 million in aid over the past five years. In total, according to the United Nations, the withdrawal by the US could cause 15 million deaths worldwide, with a catastrophic impact on East Africa.
“Today, no one really knows what is happening in practically any African country”, says Patrick Adam de Villiers, president of the Madagascar Foundation. “Beyond the financial flows that will dry up, there is an entire ground, monitoring, needs assessment and information feedback infrastructure that will disappear and that has to be urgently redrawn. Because the entire area is very fragile, southern Madagascar is experiencing a severe famine linked to global warming; Sudan has 1.5 million refugees being bombed by their own government; Mozambique is dealing with the rise of radical Islamism, causing civilian populations to fear for the worst; and Yemen is experiencing a catastrophic humanitarian situation. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. So, of course, replacing USAID would be impossible, but it is imperative to find new solutions to avoid disaster.”
A large-scale project for a novel approach
Within this context, the Madagascar Foundation is launching an ambitious hospital ship project, inspired by the Mercy Ships model. One hundred seventy metres long and equipped with four operating theatres, the structure is intended to operate primarily in East Africa, spanning from Mozambique to Kenya, including Burundi, Uganda, and the Great Lakes region.
The hospital ship project represents a total investment of $400 million distributed as follows:
$250 million to purchase and equip the ship, as well as another boat for the supply and coastal transport necessary to operate the Hospital Ship.
$100 million for multiple convoys of 10 trucks equipped with medical imaging and analysis laboratories.
$50 million to protect the ship and its convoys.
Additionally, $40 million per year for 10 years will be required to operate the system.
“Our approach is unique”, says Patrick Adam de Villiers, “Because it is a global system. So, in support of the ship itself, there will be land convoys who will initially assess the needs before its intervention, allowing a dual function: providing medical care in areas where no one has access to it, while collecting strategic information on the real situation in these countries.”
Strengthening links between local associations
To do this, following the example of Madagascar, the Madagascar Foundation will rely on a network of already established local structures, including in particular the Akamasoa association of Father Pedro, the Foyer de Tonjomoha Association of Father Emeric and the “Sœurs de la Charité” (Sisters of Charity) of Father Faratsely Gaston as well as local Bishops, guaranteeing a tried-and-tested on-site approach and rigorous monitoring of the aid distributed.
“The principle is that we will not achieve anything if everyone works in their own corner”, affirms Patrick Adam de Villiers, “It is imperative to extend and strengthen existing links between associations operating on site, to create synergies. The goal is to pool our resources and networks to ensure the necessary control of the delivery of aid, from the collection of food to the mouths it will feed.”
Call for international mobilisation.
To finance this large-scale project, the Madagascar Foundation plans to create a Global Council of Influential Women, by mobilising personalities such as Her Majesty Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al Missned, mother of the Emir of Qatar, head of the Qatar Foundation and designated ambassador of the Alliance of Civilizations (AOC) by the UN Secretary-General, Princess Sara bint Mashour Al Saud, Queen Rania, Princess Lalla Salma, Sheikha Hind Bint Maktoum, Meghan Markle, Princess Victoria of Sweden, Queen Letizia of Spain, Princess Charlene or Melania Trump, who share common commitments to children, education, health and the fight against poverty.
“We position ourselves as a bridge across religions, colours, and races”, explains Patrick Adam de Villiers, “It’s a positive message, which can resonate with people who are sensitive to humanitarian causes. Faced with such an unprecedented situation, we must imagine alternative financing methods. This is about maintaining aid in areas which the international community has abandoned. In terms of image, the impact can be considerable for donors and financial partners. A country like Saudi Arabia, for example, which is currently engaged in a profound transformation of its image and international positioning by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, could gain significant strategic benefit from supporting such an initiative.”
About Patrick Adam de Villiers
Patrick Adam de Villiers has over 40 years of management experience and serves as President of the Madagascar Association. He is also the founding President of the Madagascar Foundation and the Adam de Villiers Foundation.
A financier by training, he has led global projects throughout his career in Africa, Europe, the Far East, the Middle East, and the United States. Specialising in international trade, business creation and reorganisation, joint venture creation, and partnerships with both private and governmental entities, he has been a private advisor to several presidents and governments outside of France. He then served as a consultant for international banks for over 10 years.
About the Madagascar Foundation
Founded in 2012, the Madagascar Foundation is a non-profit organisation with US tax-exempt status (501c3) whose mission is to energise and encourage donations from around the world to provide emergency aid to the most vulnerable populations on the island of Madagascar. In addition to providing emergency food aid, the association participates in housing construction and promotes access to education.
The Foundation has also been involved in the implementation of a hospital ship project for several years, whose mission is to assist civilian populations on the coasts of East Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean, without distinction of race, sex, or religion.
Press release published by Adam de Villiers Patrick
Keep giving!
In these times more difficult than ever, we need your help. USAID is no more. WHO has deserted. You can help us replace them. We are talking here about the survival of millions of people.
We are not affiliated with any of the associations mentioned on our homepage. We have been supporting them through our activities for several years. Your donation is exclusively for the Madagascar Association or Madagascar Foundation.
Your donation funds our humanitarian efforts only.
Protesters are erecting barricades as they demonstrate against repeated water and electricity outages in Antananarivo on September 25, 2025. (Photo by RIJASOLO / AFP)
In these times more difficult than ever, we need your help. USAID is no more. WHO has deserted. You can help us replace them. We are talking here about the survival of millions of people.
We are not affiliated with any of the associations mentioned on our homepage. We have been supporting them through our activities for several years. Your donation is exclusively for the Madagascar Association or Madagascar Foundation.
Your donation funds our humanitarian efforts only.
Another of our containers arrived in Ehoala South, Madagascar
Another of our containers arrived in Ehoala in June and is scheduled to deliver an additional quarter million meals to the starving people of Androy State in July.
We have now provided more than a million meals in this region.
But children are still starving there.
Below is a documentary on YouTube that investigate the hunger in Madagascar
This article depicts and illustrate how brutal the hunger is in Madagascar…
Keep giving!
In these times more difficult than ever, we need your help. USAID is no more. WHO has deserted. You can help us replace them. We are talking here about the survival of millions of people.
We are not affiliated with any of the associations mentioned on our homepage. We have been supporting them through our activities for several years. Your donation is exclusively for the Madagascar Association or Madagascar Foundation.
Your donation funds our humanitarian efforts only.
Madagascar Foundation, a Non-Profit American Public Charity (501 c 3) Request contact with First Lady Melania TRUMP to support the Great Project of a Ship Hospital offering :
To unite People and Nations around an international Humanitarian Action For the benefit of non-belligerent Countries
Field of action:
East Africa and Indian Ocean.
A space for training and learning medical staff
by volunteer medical professionals.
As of September 2019, a letter was addressed to Melania TRUMP about our Plan of Action.
An International Project scope designed to provide health care
for the needy of East Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean.
A bridge between cultures, religions, and traditions.
Father Pedro Opeka of Slovenian origin,
Recognized worldwide for his humanitarian work for the poorest of the poor in Madagascar.
We support his association and
his 20,500 children, his 25,000 people in 22 villages, schools, clinics, and hospitals.
Fra Pedro Opeka has already saved a Million People and has been featured several times for The Nobel Peace Prize.
Father Pedro Opeka received on October 29th, 2015 in New York
The highest award conferred by St. John’s University is entitled “Spirit of Service Award”.
Fra Pedro received Pope Francis
On September 20, 2019
In his village of Akamasoa
In Madagascar.
Pedro Opeka is of Slovenian origin, like First Lady Melania Trump. Melania already knows the name of Fra Pedro Opeka,
and we expect from her;
Attention
Interest
Support
and
Leadership
Leadership of the First Lady of the United States:
Melania TRUMP can give the necessary impetus to this project and
can be the Leader of this exceptional humanitarian movement.
The First Lady will be the emblem of The international aid
always encouraged by the United States of America
to the rest of the world.
With the Leadership of the First Lady of the United States,
We will set a Council of First Ladies, Queens, and Princesses
in Europe and the Middle East having a common concern as;
Education
Childhood
Health
Poverty
Hunger
and
Peace
This Council will support our exceptional Humanitarian Project of the Ship Hospital
and will become a platform for discussion and conciliation between some Middle Eastern countries and Western countries to find acceptable solutions to their deep disagreements, they have today, and
may diminish International tension.
We had contact with Brigitte Macron, First Lady of France,
We had been in contact with Prince Albert II of Monaco in 2019.
He also gave us his support at that time on that matter.
Monaco supports Father Pedro and his Association AKAMASOA in Madagascar for more than 20 years already.
NOW, this unparalleled Humanitarian Project may have a chance of success.
We hope that during Donald Trump’s second term, Melania will finally decide to give us the attention this Great Project deserves and that the world is waiting for.
As blood continues to be shed every day and the world focuses on the war in Ukraine, Madagascar is also at war!
Here, we fight against poverty. Unlike regions that receive funds for war, Madagascar does not benefit from an influx of money to help solve its problems.
Children are dying in silence and women are suffering.
We cannot ease their pain without your help.
Money is hard to come by for charity, malnutrition and starvation.
No one should die in silence, but here it is a tragic reality. We have faith in humanity and believe that everyone can help their neighbor. Our brothers and sisters on the other side of the planet need us. We encourage you to make a difference by donating.You are just one click away from doing good!
Just click on the yellow “Donate” button on our site to help alleviate the suffering of people in Madagascar.
We are not affiliated with any of the associations mentioned on our homepage. We have been supporting them through our activities for several years. Your donation is exclusively for the Madagascar Association or Madagascar Foundation.
Your donation funds our humanitarian efforts only.
In 2025 and the years to come, the challenge will be to increase aid to the southern regions of Madagascar. We cannot succeed without your help.
Through the links above, you can learn that over 100,000 deaths are expected in the near future and 500,000 in the short term due to severe famine.
More than 1,500,000 people are expected to suffer from extreme hunger.
We have established a partnership with Father Faratsely Gaston, who oversees the organization in the South of Madagascar, along with 250 Sisters of Charity, who ensure food distribution to the poor.
The Foundation and its partners once again need your support in facing what lies ahead.
According to international authorities, Madagascar is one of the countries most affected by climate change. Here are recent photos sent to us by our teams:
Finally, we would like to remind you that we support the efforts of:
Father Pedro Opeka (Akamasoa) since 2012 (17,500 children, 25,000 people, 4,000 workers)
Father Emeric Amyot d’Inville and support for the disabled since 2020 (over 1,000 people)
Father Gaston FARATSELY and the 250 Sisters of Charity in the far South of Madagascar.
Help us share “Madagascar FOUNDATION” and its mission with your friends, neighbors, colleagues, and businesses so we can build a larger network of financial support for all our efforts. It is vital. Your financial support is essential to help the organization continue its mission to assist the people of Madagascar.
We are the Madagascar Foundation and Madagascar Association. We are non-governmental organizations dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable and impoverished communities in Madagascar.
We are currently facing a disastrous situation as 1.5 million people in the region struggle with the devastating effects of famine and disease.
Madagascar is experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis, with food shortages in the far South and the emergence of diseases disproportionately affecting children.
The situation requires immediate attention, and the Madagascar Foundation is committed to bringing relief and support to those in need.
To respond effectively to this crisis and make a meaningful impact, we are seeking donations from compassionate individuals and organizations.
Your contribution will help provide essential food supplies, medical aid, and access to clean drinking water for these children and their families.
Your generosity can make a significant difference in the lives of those who are suffering.
Our collective effort brings relief to the children of Madagascar.
To contribute, please visit our website or contact us directly. We also accept donations in kind or partnership proposals that align with our mission.
Thank you for considering our urgent appeal.
Together, we can make a positive impact and bring hope to those who need it most.
We are not affiliated with any of the associations mentioned on our homepage. We have been supporting them through our activities for several years. Your donation is exclusively for the Madagascar Association or Madagascar Foundation.
Your donation funds our humanitarian efforts only.
