Relief efforts in KZN: organisations spreading hope and how you can help

Many areas in KwaZulu-Natal are devastated after flooding last week caused extensive damage. Human and animal lives were lost, properties were destroyed and infrastructure has all but washed away.

Picture: Alfred Madikizela, Shaun Tait and Mdu Vato are part of the Domino Foundation’s Disaster Relief Unit

But as so often happens when disaster strikes, South Africans are banding together. Rescue teams are saving lives; non-governmental organisations are donating food and offering shelter to those affected. Beaches are being cleaned. Here are some organisations making a difference, and how you can help.

The Domino Foundation

‘The inevitable destruction and human misery spurred the DRU (Disaster Relief Unit) team, its partners and a small army of volunteers into top gear,’ said the Domino Relief Foundation.

The first to deliver much-needed relief supplies to Domino’s offices were the Kolisi Foundation, Boxer Superstores and aQuellé. They have been followed by a procession of other donors and willing volunteers to pack relief buckets.

Most of the foundation’s more than 14 000 beneficiaries lived in some of the worst-hit areas and were very vulnerable at this time, said Cathy Whittle, the DRU’s co-ordinator. ‘We aren’t using a shotgun approach. We are working directly with community leaders who have displaced, desperate people gathering in community halls that have cooking facilities. Domino delivers food parcels to these community leaders and, in this way, food gets directly to those who need it.’

Domino has committed to providing 500 food buckets per week for a month.

How to help

Those wanting to donate financially can do so via EFT, Zapper or credit card. Interested businesses can contact the foundation to receive a corporate proposal for CSI Flood Relief Funding and Business Support.

Contact Domino’s donor relations champions Tarin ([email protected]), Elaine ([email protected]) or Navin ([email protected]).

Volunteers can also organise the collection of rice, beans, oil, maize, baked beans, salt, soap and blankets and call 031 563 9605 or email [email protected] for Domino to arrange collection.

Alternatively, donations can be delivered to the foundation’s offices at 37 Mackeurtan Avenue, Durban North.

Gift of the Givers

Gift of the Givers is no stranger to disaster response. One of the biggest challenges after the floods had been to give communities access to drinking water, the organisation said. ‘The big request has come for water – even from people not affected by the floods. The water purification system isn’t working, because they’ve been damaged by the floods. So lots of Durban, Tongaat and Verulam are without water… So, those are all challenges for water, but we’ve been able to supply a few truckloads of water,’ the group said on Facebook.

Picture: Gift of the Givers

It has also co-ordinated food drops to communities cut off because of infrastructure damage. ‘Due to rampant flooding, the Wushwini Settlement in the Valley of 1000 Hills was stranded and deemed “inaccessible” after heavy rainfall, which caused landslides and flash flooding all over the KwaZulu-Natal province.

‘In an effort to assist those in this isolated community, we partnered with the South African National Defence Force – SANDF, South African Police Service, KZN and WC Disaster Management and arranged for food drops where we provided the community with essential #FoodParcels and clothing via a helicopter,’ Gift of the Givers said.

Picture: Gift of the Givers organising food parcels for isolated communities

How to help

For a list of contact details and different options on how to donate or get involved, click here. You can also call 0800 786 911.

Beach cleanups

KZN Sharks Board 

The KZN Sharks Board in partnership with various stakeholders including Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN), and the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), have organised a major beach clean-up campaign on Tuesday, 19 April 2022 at Dakota Beach in Isipingo.

Donations can also be be dropped off at its headquarters in Umhlanga, at 1 A Herrwood Drive. Ask for Nombuso Ngubane, the acting marketing manager. You can also contact the Sharks Board on +27 (0) 31 566 0400.

The Litterbroom Project

The Litterbroom Project is a river interception programme that focuses on stopping plastic pollution from ending up in the ocean. ‘After collecting over 700 bags last week TLP will be continuing to deploy our teams this week at Umdloti Beach and the Mangroves (north of Umgeni River mouth) to tackle the plastic pollution build-up,’ the organisation said.

Follow its Facebook page to see details about the next cleanup. To donate or find out more, you can visit this link or email [email protected].

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