As heavy rain threatens to batter Durban today, hundreds of refugees displaced by recent xenophobic violence remain exposed to the elements, with nowhere safe to seek shelter.
Among them are dozens of babies, toddlers and newborns who continue sleeping on the roadside as flood warnings raise fears of an escalating humanitarian crisis.
Image Insured has issued an urgent appeal to churches across Durban to open their doors to the refugees, who have been camping outside the Department of Home Affairs offices on Che Guevara Road for weeks.
The plea comes as the South African Weather Service (SAWS) warns of disruptive rainfall across parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
SAWS has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for disruptive rainfall affecting KwaZulu-Natal’s eastern regions, excluding the province’s extreme north-east, as well as the south-eastern parts of the Eastern Cape.
The weather service has warned that localised flooding of roads, bridges and communities is possible, along with damage to infrastructure.
Around 450 refugees have been stranded at the site since the middle of May after being forced from their homes during a wave of xenophobic attacks.
Although they have official refugee status, many are unable to return to their countries of origin, leaving them trapped in limbo with nowhere else to go.
Today, approximately 250 people are still sleeping on the roadside without proper sanitation, shelter or access to healthcare.
While disaster relief organisations have been working tirelessly to provide food assistance, humanitarian groups say meals alone cannot shield vulnerable families from the dangers of heavy rain, exposure and deteriorating living conditions.
With flood warnings now in effect, Image Insured said immediate intervention from the community is critical to prevent an already desperate situation from becoming even worse.
“With flood warnings issued, it is vital that these people are able to take shelter somewhere safe. We are calling on all churches in the Durban area to assist by taking in a few of these vulnerable people over the next week, if at all possible,” the organisation said.
Image Insured has urged churches, faith-based organisations and anyone able to provide temporary accommodation or practical assistance to come forward, adding that those willing to help will be put in touch with the relevant relief coordinators.
IOL
