Tuesday, October 9 brought chaos and devastation across the South Coast and greater Durban area in the wake of a powerful freak storm.

Large numbers were displaced by flooding in Isipingo, Umlazi and Montclair, whole highways were brought to a standstill and gale force winds wrought destruction on hospitals, homes and other buildings.

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Up to eight hospitals reported damage and eight deaths have been reported as a result of the freak weather. Al-Imdaad Foundation teams were quick to mobilise in co-ordination with local eThekwini Disaster Management and by Tuesday evening they had already begun distributions for displaced victims from the Montclair area, where flooding had been especially severe. On October 11, at a briefing meeting for the crisis, the support and contributions of the Al-Imdaad Foundation was acknowledged by the acting MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Weziwe Thusi. Following the meeting a team then proceeded to Umlazi where they distributed 100 mattresses for displaced families.

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The Al-Imdaad Foundation was also part of a delegation that visited families who had lost love ones in the storm. In Umlazi C-section, the delegation visited family members of a mother and daughter who had been crushed under a collapsed wall at the Prince Mshiyeni Hospital during the storm.

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Family members of a toddler who had been washed away by strong floodwaters were also visited. The delegation offered comfort to the bereaved, and the Al-Imdaad Foundation contributed food parcels for the affected families. Distributions continued throughout October 12, after assessments had been made at the Transnet informal settlement in Isipingo, Ward 30 where up to 410 people were affected by the storm.

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Distributions also took place for displaced families at a transit camp for displaced residents of Isipingo. All activities were closely co-ordinated with Disaster Management Authorities to ensure communities most in need were identified.
On the morning of Friday, teams were in the field once again for an assessment of the situation at Cato Crest informal settlement in Durban where up to 70 individuals had been affected by the storm. Relief distributions followed the assessments during the course of Friday morning.

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Teams in Durban will continue to monitor the needs of affected communities and respond as necessary in coordination with Disaster Management and local authorities. Concurrent relief programmes have also been taking place by Al-Imdaad Foundation teams in Gauteng for victims of a similar freak storm which affected the province on October 9. Al-Imdaad Foundation’s Gauteng teams conducted distributions at Orient Hills settlement in Mogale City, Etwatwa in Ekurhuleni, Sterkfontein and Krugersdorp, amongst other areas.
For more information or for those seeking to contribute to the Al-Imdaad Foundation’s emergency relief efforts please visit www.alimdaad.com or call 086 178 6243.

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