Question NW333 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Reply:

The national Disaster has been declared on floods. In providing relief and support to the communities affected by floods, governmnet has activated a working Special Intergovernmental Committee on Disaster Management to provide support and relief to the affected communities. Teams comprising national, provincial and local spheres of government have been assessing the damage and providing emergency support in the form of shelter, food, blankets and other essentials.

The department is working with local communities through relevant organs of state and structures as per the existing arrangements. The department through the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) has activated the National Joint Floods Coordination Committee (NJFCC) for coordination and collaborative efforts by relevant organs of state with the legislated mandate to provide relief and support to the communities affected by the floods. The NDMC analyses reports received from Provincial Disaster Management Centres (PDMCs) and facilitates mobilisation of resources from relevant organs of state as well as advises on the communities where interventions and relief and support are required.

We focus on immediate humanitarian relief, ensuring that all affected persons are safe and that their basic needs are met. We focus on stabilisation and recovery, rehousing people who have lost homes and restoring provision of services. We focus on reconstruction and rebuilding. An immediate task is to house those people who have been displaced by the floods.

End.