Hwange, (Indonsakusa-New Ziana) – The Hwange District Civil Protection Committee (CPC) on Tuesday appealed for food and other assistance for flood victims in the area.
The district was hit by heavy rains at the weekend which resulted in flooding.
Some coal mines were affected, as were 70 families whom the civil protection unit said it was appealing for assistance for.
In an interview,the CPC chairperson Nyaradzo Masoja said food, clothes, stationery and medicines were among the immediate needs of the affected families.
She said the flooding victims were relocated to temporary shelter provided by the Hwange Colliery Company.
“We have also requested the Ministry of Health to supply clinics with additional medicines and aqua tabs to curb water borne diseases. Also of great importance is that there are some people with chronic illnesses who lost their medicines during the floods so we are in the process of identifying them so we can assist. We also appeal for diapers for babies who were also affected,” Masoja said.
“We are appealing for donations to assist the families that were affected by floods. So far we have on record 55 families that were displaced by the floods and because we are still tallying, the number is likely to reach 75. Most of these families’ social amenities such as food, sanitary wear, clothes and other items were destroyed when their homes were submerged in water so there is a need to attend to that.”
“We are calling on companies, churches, individuals and stakeholders as a whole to assist in this humanitarian need that is before us.” Masoja said.
No injuries or deaths, however, were reported after in the floods.
But the floods, which followed heavy downpours of up to 139mm, damaged stockpiles of coal at Hwange Power Station and Makomo Resources, affecting power generation.
Even some local shops, such as TM supermarkets, were also forced to temporarily close by the flooding.
A victim, Sekani Ncube, said she lost all her possessions.
“All my belongings were swept away,it was too late for me to take my staff out of the water.I would appreciate if i get assistance,” she said.
She is among the victims relocated by CPC.
Indonsakusa-New Ziana
