iLembe’s leading NPOs evaluate flood relief efforts and how to prevent future crises

iLembe’s leading non-profit organisations (NPOs) are working together to find the best way forward for the flood-stricken in their communities.

Representatives of 12 NPOs met last week as part of a monthly forum held by the iLembe Chamber of Commerce.

NPOs are often the first port of call for victims of disasters, as they already have well established community connections.

This was again brought into sharp focus after the floods which affected large parts of the district.

“We have residents in the Etete community reaching out to us and we are awaiting news of what aid can be delivered. At the moment, everything has been done privately,” said Summerhill House director, Paula Owen.

The group were addressed by guest speakers Quentin Power of the National Sea Rescue Institute and Snenkosi Xaba of Operation Sukumasakhe in the human settlements department at KwaDukuza municipality (KDM).

Power spoke of his experiences during the floods, where his team rescued hundreds of trapped people.

Aside from the heroism he described from his team and other rescue personnel, Power spoke about how loss of life could be prevented in future disaster situations.

“The first and most direct help we can offer is to provide education programmes in these communities. If we can get to the point where community leaders and members are helping themselves, then that is a huge plus,” he said.

Power said better communication was needed between government departments, as well as between government and the private sector.

“When it became apparent that flooding was going to occur, there should have been widespread evacuations in areas that were expected to be impacted. This would have both saved lives and freed up rescue personnel to reach more pressing situations.”

He said no centralised response was evident from the municipalities across KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), which should have been developed following last year’s riots.

Xaba spoke on the municipality’s post-flooding interventions, including plans for temporary houses that are to be built for the hundreds of displaced people in KwaDukuza.

No timeline was presented for relief efforts as fund approval is still being awaited from the office of the KZN premier.

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