KZN Floods

In April 2022, KwaZulu Natal Province experienced a consistency of severe rains, which led to massive flooding destroying homes, roads, bridges, schools and human life. Nearly 4000 homes were reported to have been destroyed, with 8300 homes partially damaged. The estimation of more than 40 000 people were internally displaced by the floods while over 400 people were killed while many remain more remain missing and assumed dead.   

The majority of people affected were the residents of informal settlements, which are usually built along streams and rivers. Most of the shacks were washed away leaving a trail of destruction and devastation of livelihoods. Thousands of affected people were accommodated in temporal shelters in tents and community halls.

Islamic Relief responded to the Kwa-Zulu Natal floods by activating the emergency response intervention. This intervention entailed rapid needs assessment of the floods and the people affected. The first response was to provide relief to the people affected including women, children and the elderly by providing blankets, mattresses and emergency food packs.

As part of our Emergency Response Plan, Islamic Relief KZN had procured the above items in readiness for any disaster. However, at the time of the KZN floods, only emergency food packs had been secured and stored. Islamic Relief KZN collaborated with Polokwane Muslim Welfare Foundation to distribute 1000 emergency food packs to affected areas through the network of Imams supported by the Imam Development program.