HOPE Africa disaster relief

Three months after deadly floods ravaged many parts of KZN, HOPE Africa visited the communities of Marianridge and Clermont to pray with and offer support to beneficiaries adversely affected by the flooding. On 11 and 12 April, more than 400mm of rain caused havoc, causing damage to essential infrastructure, affecting more than 85 000 people and leaving more than 27 000 families without proper shelter and housing. The floods left 461 people dead and more than 87 people still missing. Three months later most of the families are still housed in school and community halls. Others are living with relatives while some families chose to remain in their dilapidated homes and structures. Many of these communities are still without running water, electricity, or ablution facilities.

The Diocese and clergy of Natal rallied around community members and are to be commended for the pastoral care that they are giving to the many communities. They were able to identify the most desperate families to receive support from HOPE Africa. With your generous and kind assistance and support we were able to provide food vouchers to 150 families in Marianridge and Clermont areas.

Beneficiaries also received blankets, clothing and food supplied by parishes of Ladismith and surrounding areas.

From our assessment, it is very clear that these communities will still need support for a very long time to come. We have therefore pledged to assist more communities and we hope that we can rely on your continued support for the people of KZN. What is also desperately needed is psychosocial support for people to heal from the dreadful event of April 2022.