IDC donates R1.9m emergency relief items to Ashraful Aid KZN appeal

Ashraful Aid International Humanitarian Organisation received a generous donation of R1.9 million (one million nine hundred thousand Rand) from the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) towards ongoing relief efforts among communities affected by recent floods in Kwazulu-Natal.

Ashraful Aid CEO, Suhail Wadee, says: “Our teams have been on the ground since the first day and we have seen first-hand the destruction and the dire need for assistance across KZN. We are extremely grateful to the IDC for this donation which comes at a time when, more than three weeks after the floods, many communities remain without water and basic necessities, and many families are still being housed in community halls and temporary shelters without sufficient food, blankets and mattresses.”

The IDC donation will be used towards supplying a total of 200,000 litres of water, over 80 tons of food as well as thousands of hygiene packs, mattresses and blankets where needed. Emergency water and food relief has already started being supplied to various areas.

This weekend on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th May, large-scale distributions including 3,750 food hampers, 400 blankets, 300 mattresses and other items were delivered by Ashraful Aid staff and Volunteers to beneficiaries at community halls and shelters.

Areas included Ndwedwe, Umlazi, Inanda, Marianhill, Amaoti, Ntuzuma, Chatsworth, Verulam, Riet River, Phoenix, Isipingo, Kwa Mashu, Molweni, Tongaat, PoloPony, Embo, Tshemimnyana, Chesterville, Lindelani, Newslands, Queensburgh, Malagazi, Welbedacht and Waterfall, where handover ceremonies were arranged by local community leaders.

“We sympathise with the people of KZN during this trying time. The IDC is deeply concerned about the well-being and safety of fellow South Africans, families and businesses affected by the floods. We are confident that our partnership with Ashraful Aid and their well-established track record will make an impactful difference within the KZN community, as it did during last year’s unfortunate unrest in the province,” says Tshepo Ramodibe, IDC Head of Corporate Affairs.

Ashraful Aid continues to monitor and respond through its KZN regional office based in Durban. Ashraful Aid Regional Manager for KZN, Sabera Asmal, who has been visiting communities and co-ordinating efforts says. “We are contacted daily by people still requiring assistance, and we expect this will continue for a few months. With the assistance of volunteers and our Gauteng team, we have already delivered over 100 tons of aid including food, mattresses, clothing and other items, as well as over 100,000 litres of water. This donation, and the donations of hundreds of individuals and partners, will allow us to continue to help as long as needed.”

This is the second time IDC has partnered with Ashraful Aid to provide emergency relief across KZN. Following the riots last year, Ashraful Aid, together with the IDC, distributed 1500 food parcels to families. Both organisations remain committed to providing ongoing assistance.

* The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa Limited was established in 1940 through an Act of Parliament and is fully owned by the South African Government. IDC's mandate is to maximise development impact through job-rich industrialisation, while contributing to an inclusive economy by, among others, funding black-owned and empowered companies, black industrialists, women, and youth-owned and empowered enterprises. (www.idc.co.za)

* Ashraful Aid is an international Humanitarian agency based in South Africa responding to the needs of communities for over 25 years. Ashraful meaning ‘honourable’, has always been the cornerstone of the organisation. Through our local operations team and global partners, we assist communities affected by poverty disasters, famine and war. (www.ashrafulaid.org)

--
For more information and interviews contact:
 
Ml Suhail Wadee, CEO, Ashraful Aid, Mobile: +27 83 324 2853, Email: [email protected]
 
Yusuf Nabee, COO, Ashraful Aid, Mobile: 083 327 6341, Email: [email protected]