JOHANNESBURG — South Africa has declared a national state of emergency and has allocated $67 million to help those affected by flooding that has already killed at least 448 people in the eastern city of Durban and the surrounding KwaZulu-Natal province.
Nearly 4,000 homes were destroyed and more than 40,000 people were displaced by rising waters and landslides triggered by sustained heavy rains, provincial officials said Tuesday.
More than 40 people are still missing and about 600 schools have suffered damage estimated at about $28 million, according to authorities.
MORE THAN 40,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY THE FLOOD
The military has deployed 10,000 troops as part of Operation Chariot to help with ongoing search and rescue efforts, delivering food, water and clothing to flood victims and rebuilding collapsed roads and bridges.
Tankers with potable water have been dispatched to areas where services have been disrupted, and crews are working to restore power to large areas.
Some students used shovels to remove mud from some flooded schools.
President Cyril Ramophosa visited some of the flooded areas last week and blamed climate change for unprecedented rains, the heaviest in at least 60 years.
Ramaphosa announced the status of the disaster in a televised address on Monday evening and promised that government funds for the flood victims would not be lost due to possible corruption.
“Corruption, mismanagement or fraud of any kind must have no place,” Ramaphosa said.
According to the research carried out, the vaccine enables a 30 percent reduction in severe cases of malaria, which can lead to death.
“Based on the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are bringing together various stakeholders to be part of an oversight structure to ensure that all funds disbursed in response to this disaster are properly accounted for and that the state is getting value for money receives,” he said.
Ramaphosa was speaking after the State Special Investigation Unit exposed corruption using state funds intended to help the nation respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former Health Minister Zweli Mkhize resigned after the inquiry found businesses linked to his family were benefiting from inflated contracts.