“It is unacceptable and inhumane to have physically challenged, sick and elderly frail persons living in flooded areas. Even a day in such conditions cannot be acceptable”. These were the words of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Executive Mayor, Cllr Babalwa Lobishe following the flood relief assistance efforts that she led on Monday, Tuesday and this morning in Kariega and the former Ibhayi area.
She was addressing the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) this morning, where senior municipal service delivery officials together with other emergency services, other government departments and state-owned agencies convene with the Disaster Management department to coordinate disaster relief efforts.
Coordinated by the NBMBM disaster management department, the Executive Mayor has for the past two days, embarked on and led flood relief efforts with a team of different municipal service delivery officials, and other state agencies.
During flood disaster site visits to different areas, the Executive Mayor experienced cases where several vulnerable residents were found to be living in dire circumstances due to heavy rains and flooding.
In an area called Qunu, the Executive Mayor immediately intervened to rescue a family who is living with a child with a disability. Due to heavy rains and flooding, the sanitation system around their home collapsed, creating an unbearable, unhealthy environment. The family has been moved to a temporary house in a safe area.
In Ward 42 Kwanobuhle, the Executive Mayor, Lobishe and the team rescued a bedbound elderly woman with impaired vision from a flooded area. The woman has since been relocated. A temporary house for her will be completed by the end of Wednesday.
In Ward 33, the Executive Mayor, Lobishe rushed to intervene in cases where three persons are dependent on an electricity run oxygen pump. The area’s electricity supply interrupted by heavy rains. A special electricity team was brought in to assist the affected persons.
“We need to show compassion in our service delivery approach. As leaders and government officials, we shouldn’t only say that we care, our actions should speak louder than words. The conditions our people live in are not good, and it becomes a double blow for the sick, elderly, physically challenged persons and child-headed families to experience the difficulties presented by a flood. We need to move with speed and attend to these special cases with compassion,” said Executive Mayor Lobishe.
Since the start of the heavy rains on Monday, 4 November 2024, a total of 843 persons have been relocated to eight shelters.
As from today, 6 November 2024, a total of 349 individuals were accommodated and served with hot meals. They have also been given disaster relief items such as blankets, mattresses, food parcels and family packs. These shelters are serviced by both the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Disaster Management Unit, donors as well as the Department of Social Development and SASSA. They were also taken through psycho-social sessions to mitigate the impact of their situation.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality remains committed to swiftly addressing all service delivery issues and matter related to the aftermaths of the flood. Together we can do more to show we care in how we restore lives and hope, fix infrastructure and improve service delivery.
NMB Communications
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