An interdepartmental disaster
management committee was formed by government and is in operation. The Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Southern Africa Development Service-LWF/DWS was the only
non government organisation that attended the Northern Region Joint Operational
Committee on Disaster Management on Friday 25 February 2000 at Thohoyandou.
At this meeting six sub-committees were formed to deal with the disaster.
The ELCSA Development Service-LWF/DWS is coordinating with the subcommittees
on accommodation and food and other purchases.
A day after the first downpour
caused by Cyclone Eline in the Northern Province ELCSA Development Service
distributed food to 56 families and materials for shelter to 21 families.
Washed away roads and bridges currently hamper further distribution. The sodden
grounds are making it difficult for tent pitching. Instead of tents, ELCSA
Development Service is distributing materials for the construction of temporary
shelters in the form of corrugated iron sheets and gum poles. The beneficiaries
will later use the materials for the construction of new houses. ELCSA Development
Services is also distributing second hand clothing to most needy.
On Saturday 26 February 2000,
central government for food, blankets, water purification, construction of
temporary pedestrian crossings and medical supplies. The South African Police
Services and the South African National Defence Force are conducting rescue
operations and delivering essential supplies to marooned institutions such
as hospitals.
The following pictures, which
were taken on Friday 25 February 2000 and Saturday 26 February 2000, tell
a bit of the story. On Friday for instance, the writer drove across three
overflowing bridges and thirty minutes later one of them collapsed and for
a day towns and communities on the Northern part of the Tropic of Capricorn
were cut off from the southern part of South Africa. No one could travel by
road to Johannesburg. Two pictures which were taken earlier during the month
are also shown.
