South African Emergency RequestSynergos received the following letter from the Social Change Assistance Trust (Scat) in South Africa following a devastating series of snow and rain storms. I was in Southern Africa at the time and saw terrible headlines in local newspapers during the week of July 17-21. Scat is asking for all of our help in recovery from this disaster. I'm happy to report that as of mid-August, GPC members had raised $7,250 to help rebuild storm-damaged villages Cape Town Dear Colleagues and Friends at the Global Philanthropists Circle and Synergos, Hope this email finds you in good health while the bitter cold weather and heavy rains have gripped much of South Africa. You may have read in your local media about the snow and heavy rains disasters in South Africa. A wild and violent storm ravished parts of KwazuluNatal (KZN) and the Eastern Cape around 18 to 21 July. By Friday 19th of July, the weekend holiday makers from Johannesburg were advised not to travel to KZN as many roads were closed due to heavy snow falls. It is however human nature that such stories have a profound impact when someone we know is affected and or if it is some place or we can relate to. It is therefore with great sadness to advise you that the hardest hit by this disaster are the rural poor in the Northern parts of the Eastern Cape. This is the area under which Elliot and Cala fall; the places you visited during you recent visit to South Africa, and specifically the communities of Cala and Elliot. Unlike the holidaymakers, who by Monday could tell of their adventures to the press, the communities of the Eastern Cape bore the brunt of the storm. Lives were lost and property was damaged. On Monday 22nd, Scat fieldworker, Zandile Nkompela -- Scat fieldworker established a "weather report" desk and started trying to make contact with our partners and colleagues in the affected areas. In addition to what we saw in the press, she was told that many houses and buildings had collapsed from the weight of the snow and roads were blocked and damaged. Helicopters were dropping food parcels, for residents as there were no supplies left in the shops. Luckily the Advice Offices is still standing and doing all they can to assist in relief efforts. All that is left of the small towns is a trail of destruction and a few shops operating with limited supplies. The community had no electricity for four days. The limited shops in Elliot had run out of supplies even in the basics such as paraffin and bread. The shops had actually collapsed. The water supply was damaged and the only available water was from melted snow. A huge section of the Elliot advice offices had collapsed and the staff were concerned about their equipment, as to make matters even worse looting was taking place in all the affected areas. Thank goodness there had been no reports of serious injuries. However it was reported in the press that so far the disaster had claimed at least twenty-five lives. Some of the deaths reported were from people trying to cross rivers and getting swept away. Nomatshawe Mxhonywa -- Coordinator of the Elliot Advice office suffered the most. The roof of her house caved in, followed by the walls causing damage to furniture and other household contents. For miraculous reasons no one was at home at the time, her family was helping other neighbours. With no household and contents insurance she has no hope of repairing it this year. Her family now shares a two bedroom house with her cousin living in the township in Elliot. Although the emergency supplies are still being distributed to the affected areas, the building costs are not covered. Hence, we appeal to you, our friends and colleagues of the Golbal Philanthropists Circle and others for assistance towards repair costs of the damaged section of the Elliot Advice Office and Nomatshawe's house. The repair costs for the Elliot Advice office is estimated at approximately R20 000. To repair Nomashawe's house in the township is estimated at R5 000. Scat would greatly appreciate your support in this regard. We would gladly manage the disbursement and financial accounting for it. While the Xalanga Advice office in Cala was not directly affected, as a Community-Based organisation, they are inundated with requests for support and assistance for building materials and clothing. Although it would be tricky for Scat to manage and account for the Xalanga request, the disaster relief fund has been set up for such donations. Looking forward to hear from you, Warm regards from a very cold Cape of Storms |