Tawanda Marwizi
The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society has joined government and other organisations in assisting people left homeless after floods affected some areas in Binga, Matabeleland North province.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society said it was actively participating in all response actions including assessment, relief distribution and coordination.
“The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) is responding to the floods emergency which affected 181 families in Binga district.
“The raging flood waters destroyed everything in its path leaving 38 households completely homeless while other households had varying degrees of shelter damages,” the organisation said.
The ZRCS said they were working together with government departments such as the Department of Civil Protection (DCP) in providing relief material for the affected families.
“Livelihoods, crops and what meagre food stocks the family had in their houses were also destroyed. A joint response is ongoing coordinated through the department of Civil Protection.
“ZRCS has actively participated in all response actions including assessment, relief distribution and coordination.”
Some of the relief material offered by the organisation include food items, shelter material that include tents, blankets and clothes.
“Thanks to support from ECHO, Finnish RC and the British Red Cross, ZRCS has provided assistance to 25 families from among the totally homeless families with shelter material, food, clothes and blankets. UNFPA has also weighed with dignity kits which our volunteers helped distribute to beneficiaries,” the society said.
Meanwhile, ZRCS humanitarian ambassador Alick Macheso has pleaded to people to play a part in assisting the affected families.
“I am calling upon people to play their part in assisting those who are affected. Let us take it to be our disaster and do the little we can. I want to thank all those who are chipping in assisting the affected people,” Macheso said.
According to the Department of Civil Protection, heavy rains were received in the Chizarira National Park and floods affected the Nsukwale Area under Chief Sinakoma.
The flooded area is were four rivers – Sibwambwa, Sikanda, Namapanda and Manyenyengwa – meet.
Zimbabwe in the past few weeks has received heavy rains leading to flash-flooding affecting areas such as Hwange and Gokwe-Nembudziya.
At least 350 people died in the eastern parts of Zimbabwe when Cyclone Idai affected Chimanimani, Chipinge and some parts of Masvingo during the same period last year.
