Multiple days of torrential rain began in South Africa on April 11th, affecting mostly Durban and its surrounding areas, and resulting in one of the deadliest natural disasters the country has ever seen, with at least 450 people killed. Severe flooding and landslides destroyed or damaged several thousand homes as well as critical infrastructure like roads, electrical systems, and communications.
Once the rains stopped, Premise ran an observation task for 50 Contributors in the affected area to get a view into the conditions and understand what activities volunteers were undertaking. We found that 80% of Contributors or a loved one were affected by the heavy rains and floods, with 82% of those affected reporting that a home or valuable property was damaged.
From these Contributors, we received photos showing the extent of the damage to infrastructure and houses, which enabled our partners to better understand what type of recovery efforts will be needed.
In addition to the damage to homes and other valuable property, many contributors reported that themselves or a loved one was stranded and/or had obtained physical injuries. The majority of those who found themselves or a loved one stranded said it was either due to the area around them being very unstable to pass through, or because something large like a tree, building, or truck had collapsed and blocked off the road.
In addition to the impact of the flood, we asked how the community was dealing with the aftermath, and over 60% of Contributors indicated that they were volunteering to help, with a plurality of those working to get food and water to those in need.
By leveraging the Premise network of data Contributors, our humanitarian partners are able to gain easy and immediate access to on-the-ground needs and humanitarian access. This means help can reach those affected by natural disasters, such as the floods in Durban, quickly and efficiently. We at Premise are thinking of those affected by the floods and eager to help by connecting people on the ground with those prepared to provide relief.
To learn more about our international development work, please visit www.learn.premise.com/international_development