On 25 May 2022 the Government of Flanders approved a subsidy of EUR 200,000 to the Red Cross Flanders for urgent humanitarian aid. This will help the victims of the floods in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

In April, excessive rainfall caused one of the deadliest natural disasters in the recent history of South Africa. After several days, a national state of disaster was declared. Houses, businesses, roads, bridges, as well as electricity and water infrastructure, were severely damaged in the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces.

More than 125,000 people were affected by the floods, at least 435 people were killed and more than 30,000 were displaced. The devastation in the worst affected areas is immense: thousands of houses, more than 80 health centres and about 600 schools have been destroyed or damaged. Most of the casualties and destruction occurred in the most vulnerable and exposed areas of informal settlements.

Humanitarian aid will include water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, livelihood assistance and the deployment of mental health and psychosocial support staff. The South African Red Cross Society, through its local branches, will be responsible for the implementation, in close cooperation with the Red Cross Flanders.

© Picture: South African Red Cross Society