HOEDSPRUIT: Hoedies in full force to help Mozambique
This has left many people who are still clinging to trees trying to stay alive almost a week later.
With all the efforts to help and give back to the community and other communities, it is no wonder why Hoedspruit has been nominated for ‘Town of the Year’.
On Wednesday morning, the HOEDSPRUIT HERALD got word of how organizations such as the Farm Watch, Hlokomela and the Hoedspruit Rotary Club to mention but a few, joined together to help the disaster stricken area in Mozambique after it got hit by Cyclone Idai.
The HERALD made contact with Lafras Tremper from Farm Watch who stated that they had received reports on the extent of the disaster in the Dombe district of Northern Mozambique and felt it necessary to put together immediate assistance for the stricken villagers.
“One of the farms in the area that Farmwatch has contact with, reported that 4000 hectares of the farm was under water, along with the community around it. Sadly four of the workers lost their livesbut fortunately, there was a farm shed that was not affected, so all other’s have made their way to the shed for shelter. More than 800 people are living there at the moment,” said Lafras.
He also mentioned that boats were being sent out to the area to transport people out of there and into a safer place.
The Dombe area has been hit very hard – the river running through the region has swelled to over 6km’s wide.
This has left many people who are still clinging to trees trying to stay alive almost a week later.
READ: At least 24 dead, dozens missing in Zimbabwe after cyclone
Continued rescue operations are still underway airlifting victims out of trees with helicopters or with boats where possible, however the problem arising now as time continues to progress, is that they are succumbing to hyperthermia and extreme exhaustion and are falling out of the trees before rescue teams can reach them.
The initiative that was taken up by Farm Watch to get emergency supplies together for the stricken area and true to the amazing nature of the Hoedspruit Community, within the short space of only 6 to 8 hours trailers were filled with necessary food, blankets and supplies.
Hlokomela and Hoedspruit Rotary also jumped on board and have sent donations consisting of 5000 mosquito nets from the Hlokomela group along with clothes and blankets that will be taken to the survivors, together with much needed food parcels from the Hoedspruit Rotary Club that will be sent out with the rest of the donated items from the Hoedspruit Community.
“The initiative is said to be an ongoing matter and more supplies will be sent in days and weeks to come, however, due to numerous communication challenges, some things may take a bit more time to be communicated and resolved than others, but we will continue to do all we can to assist where we can,” exclaimed Lafras.
“Good luck to the Farmwatch team on their way to Beira, Mozambique with supplies generously donated by the Hoedspruit community.
Although this is not even a drop in the bucket of the support that is needed, Hlokomela has sent up over 2000 mosquito nets with the team to the disaster stricken area.
Big thanks to Hoedspruit Rotary Clubfor the donation of food parcels & to the amazing Hoedspruit community for clothes, blankets and other much needed items,” read a post from the Hlokomela Facebook page.
