Attachments
What happened, where and when?
In South Africa, unstructured fires are on the rise in the informal settlements especially in this winter season. Recently, on 16th of July 2022, the KwaZulu Natal province Disaster Management Centre confirmed that the structured fires that blazed Kennedy Road informal settlement in Durban causing adverse impact leaving thousands displaced. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66215286 . SARCS has activated response team to assist with KwaZulu Natal province fire response. Rapid assessments conducted has revealed that about 2,357 people (647 children and 1710 adults) have been affected and displaced, and more than 1,101 households were destroyed with 02 fatalities and 05 injuries confirmed. People who were affected by the fire incident were evacuated to a local community hall whilst waiting for assistance and support. There is crisis and need for food, school uniforms water supply, hygiene packs, mental health support due to stress of losing belongings and shelter.
Scope and Scale
On the 16th of July 2023, the Kennedy Road informal settlements in Durban, KwaZulu Natal province, experienced the worst fire incident in recent years. The devastating fire, which broke out on that day, resulted in complete destruction to more than 1,101 households, leaving over a thousand people displaced. SARCS KZN provincial response team rapid assessments of 17 July revealed that:
-
In total, about 2,357 people have been affected and displaced, being 647 children and 1,710 adults. This represents in 1,213 families.
-
More than 1,101 households have seen their houses destroyed.
-
Additionally, 112 households were partially destroyed leaving 02 fatalities reported and 05 injuries confirmed.
-
People who were affected by the fire incident were evacuated to a local community hall whilst waiting for assistance and support. The 1,213 households are homeless and in the same sites.
The fire incident has caused immense devastation to the community, with many families losing their homes and belongings. These families with hundreds of children and families are in a significant humanitarian crisis with immediate needs for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, clothing, access to food items as well as Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services. The children going to school are facing breakage attending classes with other basic needs required such as school uniforms. Immediate WASH interventions are essential to ensure access to clean water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene materials, which are critical in preventing the spread of diseases and promoting health in the affected areas.
The trauma and impact of this situation is significant with a scale never experienced, especially in Kwa Zulu even with the fire incidents recorded in the past 3 years. The affected population has never raised to this level. The most significant incidents were in August 2020 with successive fire experienced on 24 August 2020, in Kwa Zulu Natal where informal settlements In Mungeni Local Municipality 255 households were affected and under uMgungundlovu District Municipality and eThekwini Metro Municipality in Durban 267 households (482 people) were affected. On 31 August 2020 in Johannesburg, Gauteng province, untamed fires were experienced in the informal settlements of Booysens and Diepsloot. The fire incident in Diepsloot resulted from a candle that was left unattended in one of the shacks. In Booysens, the fire was the result of arson as two men were fighting, and one suspect sought revenge by burning the shack of the other rival. The fire spread uncontrollably, affecting 34 other shacks.
As of the latest update, relief efforts are underway to provide aid and support to those impacted by the disaster. Immediate relief efforts are provided on shelter, food, clean water, and essential medical assistance to those in distress. The provision of MHPSS services is also being prioritized to offer support to individuals and communities as they cope with the aftermath of the fire incident.
The current situation remains appalling, and the extent of the impact is still being assessed. As the community begins to recover from this tragic incident, the support and solidarity of the South Africa Red Cross and the public are crucial to help those affected to receive immediate assistance, rebuild their lives and restore their communities.