About 5 000 people in need of help as Western Cape roads, homes flooded - Gift of the Givers

News24

3 days ago

Humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers Foundation has been called out to multiple flooded areas in the Western Cape.
Around 5 000 people are in need of assistance, the organisation estimates.
This after a cut-off low weather system brought heavy rain, wind, and cold temperatures to the Western Cape, leaving roads and homes flooded.
'It was a rough night,' Gift of the Givers Foundation operations manager Ali Sablay said on Thursday morning.
This after a cut-off low weather system brought heavy rain, wind, and cold temperatures to the Western Cape, leaving roads and homes flooded.
He estimated that around 5 000 people were in need of assistance after the humanitarian organisation responded to a flood of calls for help from all over Cape Town.
'We see the number increasing as the rain is not stopping. The calls have been pouring in. Many have been requesting assistance with hot meals, as all their food has been contaminated. We expect to distribute close to 5 000 meals today, along with blankets, clothing, and water,' he said.
'It's going to be a huge operational task.'
The first urgent appeals were from Lwandle and Nomzamo, where close to 1 000 residents have been severely affected.
Other calls for help came from Khayelitsha, Du Noon, Mfuleni, Gugulethu, Philippi, Philippi East, Mitchells Plain, Chris Nissen Park, Macassar, and Nyanga.
'In the West Coast, the Saldanha Bay Municipality and West Coast Disaster Management have called on our teams after heavy downpours left the entire Middelpos informal settlement submerged, with hundreds of structures underwater,' he said.
Among the parts of Cape Town that were flooded were Vygieskraal, Bonnytoun, Gxagxa IFS, Lotus River, Klipfontein Road, Barcelona, Phola Park, Imizamo Yethu, Hangberg, Overcome Heights, Lwandle, Macassar, and Khayelitsha.
In addition, according to the City of Cape Town, there were reports of fallen trees and debris in several areas, including Blue Downs, Constantia, Blackheath, Sunningdale, and Bellville.
Cape Town Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Sonica Lategan said: 'The Disaster Risk Management Teams will continue assessments in the areas where flooding was reported, to determine the extent and the nature of humanitarian relief required.'
'The rain is expected to abate by afternoon, with more light showers expected from tomorrow,' she added.
Donations of non-perishable foods can be dropped off at the seven fire stations that have been designated as drop-off points.
They are in Constantia, Goodwood, Hout Bay, Lakeside, Roeland Street, Strand and Wynberg.