ACT Alert

South Africa - 1/01

Floods in the Western Cape Peninsula

Geneva, 3 September, 2001

The Western Cape Peninsula in South Africa has been hit by a spate of flooding since mid July this year due to heavy rains. More flooding were experienced in August forcing more people to leave their homes taking refuge in community halls. Most people have lost their homes as these normally are built of poor materials and could not withstand the flooding. Sanitary conditions have become pathetic as the affected areas are in low swampy places. This has increased the incidences of water borne diseases such as diarrhea. Extensive damage was also done to the meager household goods of the affected families such as mattresses, blankets, clothing and kitchen utensils. People also lost the food stocks they had in their homes and as these are very poor people, they would require relief food assistance to survive. The government has declared the area a disaster area and has called on relief organizations to join it in helping the people. The number of the affected are estimated at about 16,000 people.