Responding to Durban's torrential floods

On Monday 11th April, the city of Durban was hit by the deadliest storm on record in South Africa, with torrential rains and flooding that lasted days (and continues now). The official death toll currently sits at 306 people, but many people, including whole families, are unaccounted for, and this figure will rise substantially in the days ahead. Thousands of people have lost their homes, belongings, cars and businesses in their entirety. The devastation is thick and heavy, with shock and trauma mixing with grief and disbelief. Many areas are still without drinking water and electricity, and the risk of waterborne diseases lurks. As always, those most impacted are the poorest of the poor, living in informal settlements, rural areas and slums. Their houses simply crumbled and washed away in the floods, often with family members in them. Those who walked out alive face today with literally nothing other than the clothes on their backs.

As I sit here in the comfort of my Melbourne home, my heart is heavy for the people of Durban - the homeland of my husband and children and a place I called home for a decade. I know many people have had their lives and hearts touched by Durban and South Africa, and I've put this fundraiser together to make it easier for us to respond to this devasting situation together. We may be far away, but we're still able to help.

100% of the funds raised will be donated to two incredible volunteer-run community organisations that are front line responders in this crisis. Project Hope (led by my friend and previous colleague, Sara Brown) is focusing its flood response in KwaNyuswa. And Heart to Heart (led by our dear friends, Abby and Sandile Mkhwanazi) is responding in Lower Molweni. Both areas are poverty-stricken communities that have been hard hit by the floods.

The current urgent needs to assist with the cleanup efforts include:

1. Gumboots at $18 each

2. Shovels at $22 each

3. Daily wages for local labourers to be employed in the cleanup operation at $30 per day

4. Wheelbarrows at $100 each

5. Hire of a trailer to transport the wheelbarrows to the sites that need them at $161 per week

6. Hire of TLB excavators to move large mounds of soil and collapsed houses at $430 each per day

7. Bottled water, food, blankets and clothing for those left with nothing at $50 per bundle

Here's an update from Abby at Heart to Heart

"It looks like the apocalypse down here, it's so insane. People literally got washed away in the night from the water, landslides and mud. The helicopters came in today, looking for dead bodies. I have no idea how Durban will recover from this. There is trauma everywhere, it's so hard."

And one from Sara at Project Hope:

"We have been inundated with pleas for help and are working hard to help as many people as we can. Spirits and low, and people are scared. Houses continue to slide or are precariously balanced. Our biggest issue is housing and salvaging belongs."

Let's band together and help with donations of any size. As we give up a coffee ($5 donation), a meal out ($30 donation), or perhaps a new clothing purchase ($100 donation), we turn our helplessness into impact. With each dollar we raise, we're sending love, support and hope to the people of Durban, and letting them know they are not alone in this. We have a chance to make a real difference for people so deeply in need right now.

Please share this fundraiser with anyone you feel might want to help.

Thanks so much :)