South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday declared a state of national disaster in the country, a week after devastating floods left at least 443 people dead in KwaZulu-Natal, reported Africa News.
The new State of Disaster follows another one that was imposed for over two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The cabinet met in special session last night and decided to declare a state of national disaster,” Mr. Ramaphosa said in a televised address on Monday.”Tonight we are a nation united in mourning.”
The South African president said that more than 4,000 homes were destroyed in the floods, displacing countless people. He added that the search continued for dozens of people who were still missing.
The president said that although a provincial state of disaster had been declared last week in KwaZulu-Natal, the flooding has disrupted food supplies and fuel lines to the entire country from Durban, which is South Africa’s main port of entry and the largest in the African continent.
Ramaphosa said there were also signs that imminent adverse weather conditions could also affect other provinces and this necessitated the national state of disaster.
He announced a three-phased plan to respond to the disaster. The first phase will focus on immediate humanitarian relief, ensuring that all affected persons are safe and that their basic needs are met. The second phase will focus on stabilization and recovery, rehousing people who have lost homes, and restoring the provision of services. The third and the last phase will focus on reconstruction and rebuilding as many areas as destroyed and devastated including infrastructure.
The South African president also announced the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to help with relief efforts in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The armed forces have been instructed to activate 10,000 troops for tasks including mop-up work and transporting aid. The military will also provide medical support and helicopters for rescue and reconnaissance missions.
