Tsunami disaster in South East Asia and East Africa – SARCS’s role in the aftermath
As stated in a message from Markku Niskala, Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, “the Asian earthquake and tsunamis have been the most devastating natural disaster in modern times. Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives; millions are very dramatically affected in the region and around the world.”
Following the disaster which shook the world on 26 December 2004, the International Federation launched a global appeal to raise R350 million (67 million Swiss Francs) and further revised it up to R960 million (184 million Swiss Francs). The South African Red Cross Society (SARCS) launched its own appeal on 28 December 2004and set itself a target of R10 million towards the international relief effort. SARCS established partnerships, amongst others, with ABSA Bank and Pick‘n Pay and NetCare 911, the latter two organisations having commenced a joint fund raising campaign for the tsunami victims. Funds began streaming into the special Red Cross tsunami relief account at ABSA Bank, Heerengracht branch and ABSA generously waived all bank charges and administration fees.
SARCS’s switchboard was inundated with calls from South African citizens offering help with the relief work which had been so ably undertaken by the International Federation and 33 national societies. Emotions were close to the surface and it was often difficult to explain that the Federation was coping with the relief operations and that they would call for volunteers should the need arise. Ports, railways and other infrastructure in many cases had been destroyed in the affected areas and, logistically, it was not possible to send volunteers under the banner of the Red Cross.
On 10 January SARCS’s President, Ms Mandisa Kalako‑Williams attended an inter‑ministerial meeting at Caesars Convention Centre with Minister Sydney Mufamadi and Minister Manto Tsabalala Msimang, which took the form of a debriefing on the role of the South African government after the international donor meeting in Jakarta, Indonesiaon 6 January. At the subsequent press conference, hosted by the Department of Provincial and Local Government, Minister Sydney Mufamadi re‑emphasised that the SARCS bank account should be the preferred conduit for all national fundraising efforts as this made the accountability levels more manageable as a nation.
Although the call from the International Federation, through SARCS, was for funds rather than goods – the Red Cross was able to assess the needs in the affected areas – thousands of people and organisations felt they wanted also to donate goods in kind. SARCS responded by creating a joint operational centre (JOC), which was headed up by Mr Amod Dhai, a member of SARCS’s national board of directors. The JOC coordinated the mammoth task of transporting relief goods that were donated by organisations and individuals alike. Grindrod and Swissport made their warehouses available free of cost, the normal cost of hire being R500,000 per month. SARCS volunteers and staff members spent back‑breaking hours separating and packing the goods. The military authorities in Gautengprovided SARCS with 70 volunteers to assist with the work.
Airlines, such as Cathay Pacific, Air Singapore, Air Seychelles, Air Kenyaand Quantas kindly assisted SARCS in transporting the goods to Indonesia, Maldives, Banda Aceh, Kenya, Tanzaniaand Somalia. Many companies assisted with the transport. For instance BOHP Africa Shipping moved six 20ft FCL containers free of all shipping charges to Sri Lanka.
By the first week in February SARCS had reached its target of R10 million. However, donations continue to pour into the relief account. Generous donations were received from organisations and institutions – e.g. R1 million from ABSA, R500,000 from Investec, R362,654 from Shoprite Checkers, R250,000 from the directors and staff of KPMG, R125,000 from the Rhema South Family Church and R33,000 from the FW de Klerk Foundation. But the thousands of donations that came from individuals who clearly did not give from a situation of bounty touched everyone at SARCS.
R10 million was transferred to the International Federation in 3 tranches. The International Federation is currently involved in the rehabilitation phase of the relief operations. The recovery operations will take place over some years. See the website of the Federation for more detailed information. (www.ifrc.org) . The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been involved in tracing of missing persons and restoring of family links as well as in emergency operations in conflict zones in Sri Lankaand Indonesia. (www.icrc.org) Close cooperation has taken place between the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Partners and other stakeholders working in affected areas.
Recent local disasters
Destructive fires broke out in the Western Capeduring January 2005, the major fire being the one at Joe Slovo Settlement near Langa and another at Khayamandi Stellenbosch. As in the past, South Africans opened their hearts to their fellow South Africans and organisations and individuals donated goods to alleviate the suffering of the victims.
Joe Slovo
SARCS has been providing meals for the twelve people (now believed to be in excess of fifteen thousand) who were affected by the fire that destroyed the shacks and most of their possessions on 15 January. Twenty volunteers, 4 staff and 30 youth members from the Northern branch initially assisted with the relief work. SA Airways donated duvet covers and T‑shirts and Dairybelle a consignment of yoghurt. SARCS’s National President, Ms Mandisa Kalako‑Williams and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in South Africa, Ms Seija Tyrninoksa, visited the site on 26 January to support and encourage the volunteers and staff members who had been working tirelessly to assist the affected people who are temporarily accommodated in marquee tents.
Khayamandi, Stellenbosch
One thousand five hundred people were affected when 250 shacks burnt down on Thursday, 17 January. Seven volunteers and some members of the community provided 3 meals for the victims of the fire for 3 days. The Stellenbosch disaster management team from the municipality assisted the Red Cross with the relief work. Homes are currently being re‑built and the situation is returning to normal.
Floods in KwaZulu-Natal
A tornado which struck on 2 January 2005 caused extensive floods that destroyed the homes, agricultural fields and farming stock in many areas of KZN. More than 2000 people were affected in Ulundi, Kranskop, Estcourt, the Umvoti Municipality of Greytown, Kranskop, Sweetwaters and Ncwabi near Pietermaritzburg, Zululand, Babanango and the Nkandla district. SARCS’s National President visited these areas on 27 January to support the relief operations, which included the distribution of food parcels and clothing. ABSA Bank donated 2000 blankets. Mr Derick Naidoo, provincial manager in KwaZulu‑Natal, and his team are still continuing with the relief work.