Maravi

1.4 million people affected by floods

1.4 million people affected by floods
By Times Reporter

ABOUT 1.4 million people have been affected by floods across Zambia and 295,000 need immediate relief supplies for at least two months, Vice-President, Rupiah Banda, announced in Lusaka yesterday. Mr Banda said the Government had finalised the assessment programme on the floods across the country and established that 1.4 million people had been badly affected in various areas. He said over 40 districts were affected by floods while other districts, especially in the Southern Province, were hit by erratic rain and might equally require relied food. “It is a mammoth task,” he said.

Mr Banda said the assessment that was done by officers from the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unity (DMMU) under his office and other stakeholders identified that the effect of the floods were far reaching and more help was required. The Vice-President was speaking when he received assorted relief aid worth K113 million from Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and the Zambia-Somali Friendship Association (ZSFA). “Zambia is in a peculiar situation because some areas have droughts and people will also need food,” he said.

The floods had affected crops, roads and bridges. KCM donated 3,000 blankets worth K72 million while the ZSFA donated 300 blankets, cooking oil and 1,000 bags of mealie meal worth K41 million.
Mr Banda said the donation by the KCM and the ZSFA was timely and should be delivered to the affected people immediately. He commended KCM and the ZSFA for showing concern to the social welfare of Zambians who were in desperate need of care. Mr Banda said KCM was involved in the supportive initiatives for Zambian people, especially in education and health sectors while the Somali partners had stayed in Zambia for a long time and knew what problems people faced locally.

He said the gesture by the KCM and ZSFA would supplement Government’s efforts in attending to the needs of thousands of people that were left homeless because of floods. “It is a great lesson for Zambians to learn to give when they are in a better situation than others,” he said. KCM vice-president and chief executive, Kuldip Kaura, said the donations were in line with his company’s corporate governance, which aimed at contributing to the welfare of the people.
He said KCM was committed to improving Zambia’s economy and social perspectives as partners in development. The involvement in health programmes such as Roll Back Malaria and education support programme were part of the corporate distinctions. ZSFA chairperson, Abdullar Hussein, said his association had been in existence for 20 years now although Somalis had lived in Zambia since 1965. He said the donation was meant to help their Zambian colleagues left in the cold after floods.

Labels: FLOODS

posted by MrK @ 6:58 AM