17 Jun IDC Donates R1.5m Emergency Relief Items to Ashraful Aid KZN Appeal
Ashraful Aid International Humanitarian Organisation has received a generous donation of R1.9 million (one million nine hundred thousand rands) from the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) towards Ashraful Aid’s ongoing relief efforts for those affected by the recent floods in Kwazulu-Natal.
Ashraful Aid CEO, Suhail Wadee, says: “Our teams have been on the ground since the first day and we have seen first-hand the destruction and the dire need for assistance across KZN. We are extremely grateful to the IDC for this donation which comes at a time when, more than three weeks after the floods, many communities remain without water and basic necessities, and many families are still being housed in community halls and temporary shelters without sufficient food, blankets and mattresses.”
The IDC donation will be used towards supplying over 200,000 litres of water, over 8 tonnes of food as well as providing thousands of hygiene packs, mattresses and blankets where needed. Emergency water and food relief has already started being supplied to various areas. This weekend, on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th May, further large-scale distributions of thousands of food hampers, blankets, mattresses and other food items will be provided to over 20 community halls and shelters identified by the Ashraful Aid teams on the ground.
“We sympathise with the people of KZN during this trying time. The IDC is deeply concerned about the well-being and safety of fellow South Africans, families and businesses affected by the floods. We are confident that our partnership with Ashraful Aid and their well-established track record will make an impactful difference within the KZN community, as it did during last year’s unfortunate unrest in the province, ” says Tshepo Ramodibe, the IDC’s Head of Corporate Affairs. INSERT IDC QUOTE
Ashraful Aid continues to provide assistance through its KZN regional office based in Durban. Ashraful Aid Regional Manager for KZN, Sabera Asmal, has been visiting communities and co-ordinating efforts in the region. “We are contacted daily by people still requiring assistance, and we expect this will continue for a few months. With the assistance of volunteers and our Gauteng team, we have already delivered over 50 tonnes of aid including food, mattresses, clothing and other items, as well as over 100,000 litres of water. This donation, and the donations of hundreds of individuals and partners, will allow us to continue to provide assistance as long as is needed.”
This is the second time IDC has partnered with Ashraful Aid to provide assistance in KZN. Following the riots in KZN last year, Ashraful Aid, together with the IDC, distributed 1500 food parcels to those affected. Both organisations remain committed to providing assistance in the province.
* The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa Limited was established in 1940 through an Act of Parliament and is fully owned by the South African Government. IDC’s mandate is to maximise development impact through job-rich industrialisation, while contributing to an inclusive economy by, among others, funding black-owned and empowered companies, black industrialists, women, and youth-owned and empowered enterprises. (www.idc.co.za)
* Ashraful Aid is an international Humanitarian agency based in South Africa responding to the needs of communities for over 25 years. Ashraful meaning ‘honourable’, has always been the cornerstone of the organisation and has become a well-known name in South Africa. Through our local operations team and global partners we assist communities affected by disaster, famine and war. (www.ashrafulaid.org)
For more information and interviews contact:
- Ml Suhail Wadee, CEO, Ashraful Aid, Mobile: +27 83 324 2853, Email: suhail.wadee@ashrafulaid.org
- Yusuf Nabee, COO, Ashraful Aid, Mobile: 083 327 6341, Email: yusuf.nabee@ashrafulaid.org