Disaster-relief office on heightened alert

Baboki Kayawe | Wednesday January 11, 2017 15:35

The office said all the District Disaster Management Committees (DDMC) are on high alert and continue to monitor the situation in order to instantly render assistance when the need arises. Moreover, the office said it is adequately funded to combat the flooding crisis. In addition, principal programme officer, Tebogo Modiakgotla said in the event that the fund runs short, they have the leeway to request for additional funding.

Thus far resources have already been deplored to assist those affected by the recent Thamaga, Moshupa and Mochudi heavy rains, according to Modiakgotla. “Thirteen households in low laying areas have already been assessed in Moshupa, seven were found to be in need of relief and so far two families have been accommodated at a local school and seven got help from relatives who offered them accommodation,” he said.

The affected have been given food baskets as well, he added.

In Thamaga seven families were affected, but when the DDMC carried out assessment on Saturday, the situation had abated hence no relief was rendered.

“Assessment is still ongoing in Mochudi where four families situated in an area where water from streams runs into are likely to be evacuated.  However, the damage to buildings is very minimal, these people have lost mostly household valuables and contents as well as food,” Modiakgotla explained.

He added the district committees, which comprise about 20 personnel per district, are multi-skilled teams made up of experts from health, agriculture, veterinary, roads, the police and other personnel to enable wholesome responses to disaster.

“What is happening currently is that the teams are busy monitoring the situation in each locality,” he said.  Modiakgotla added the office has enough airboats and swamp boats in both the Southern and Northern parts of the country for rescue missions.

Meanwhile, the NDMO has advised the public to exercise caution during this period.  The public is further urged to be vigilant when approaching and crossing fast flowing streams and rivers, as the ongoing rainfall is causing flash flooding in some places.

“Parents staying in such areas are also especially encouraged not to allow their children to play or go near flood waters.  Parents must at all times be vigilant.  The public is also advised that should they require any assistance due to possible flooding in their areas, they must contact the local District Disaster Management Committee, Kgosi or the nearest police station,” a communiqué from the office stated.

Last December, the Meteorological Services Department forecast that the second half of the rain season would be characterised by heavy rains countrywide, with a risk of flooding on the scale of the disasters that occurred in 2000.