BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – In response to the latest winds, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) in collaboration with the Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society (BRECS) has provided emergency kits to 32 affected households.
These kits include tents, tarpaulins, and food items to help alleviate the immediate needs of those affected.
According to NDMA Communications Officer Wandile Mavuso, NDMA will conduct a comprehensive assessment to evaluate the impact of the windstorm and inform targeted response and recovery initiatives.
“Emergency response kits will continue to be distributed while the comprehensive assessment is being conducted. Collaboration and coordination between the NDMA, government agencies, humanitarian organisations, and local communities,” he said.
In addition, he said, the process will be crucial throughout the process which will enable a more effective, efficient, and inclusive response, fostering resilience and facilitating the restoration of normalcy for those impacted by the windstorm.
Worth mentioning is that the ongoing rapid assessment of the recent impact of the Windstorm which affected the country on August 24-25 2023 has revealed significant damages on households, schools, and businesses.
The assessment indicates that a total of 233 households, with a total of 1,221 people, were affected by the windstorm, mainly in the Manzini and Hhohho Regions. In addition to the damage to households, the windstorm also destroyed 18 schools and 15 business infrastructures.
Mavuso said the preliminary findings also highlight the adverse effects on food security and livelihoods within impacted households. The windstorm caused damage to food items and disrupted vital household assets such as vegetable gardens, piggery farms, chicken coops and other small businesses.
“ This disruption will have a direct impact on the availability of food and the economic stability of affected households,” he said.
