Drought threatens the health of communities says World Vision

Community members, speaking in focus groups held by World Vision, say there has also been a big increase in mosquitos to such an extent that daily chores are being impacted. “We are scared of the mosquitos and also snakes due to very low level of the river.”

The Umzinyathi area is under the threat of a crippling drought. Already reports have been received of cattle dying at the side of roads.

Water-shedding has been a reality for the past six months and the Buffalo River and dams are dry.

Only 12mm of rain has fallen this month – that was on Wednesday – and a lot more is needed to quench the parched ground.

According to a very recent field study conducted by World Vision South Africa in the Umvoti Local Municipality, an administrative area in the Umzinyathi District in KZN, children are suffering from sores and potentially life threatening diseases like diarrhoea and bilharzia as a result of swimming in dirty rivers. World Vision has an Area Development Programme (ADP) in Umvoti.

The Umvoti Municipality receives most its water from the Umvoti River which has, according community members, all but dried up. “The little water that we have is not clean and people use it to wash their clothes, some people bath there, cows drink there and others use the very same water for cooking/drinking,” reports the study.

The Umvoti drought situation has also impacted food production and many community members now have to buy vegetables from shops which they often can’t afford. “It is dry and everything is a mess. It is really difficult because some of us used to sell all the produced goods in order to take care of our families but lately it hasn’t been easy.”

Community members, speaking in focus groups held by World Vision, say there has also been a big increase in mosquitos to such an extent that daily chores are being impacted. “We are scared of the mosquitos and also snakes due to very low level of the river.”

School children’s daily routines are also impacted severely by the scarcity of water. At one of the primary schools children have to bring two litres of water each day. “Those who don’t bring water are sent back to fetch the water which is used – at the school – for cooking, cleaning the dishes, washing their hands after using the bathroom and for drinking,” comments Umvoti community members.

Taking action – World Food Day and relief actions

The impact of the KZN drought crisis also comes as the world and South Africa commemorates World Food Day, held on 16 October each year, as a global action against hunger. On 16 October, people around the world come together to declare their commitment to eradicate hunger.

To place the spotlight on World Food Day and importantly the water and food shortage situation in KwaZulu Natal, World Vision SA has launched two campaigns: FLOW (For the Love of Water) Inspired to see no child without water; and HungerFree, a campaign that encourages people to donate or double (double up) the amount of the cost of their meals.

“Through HungerFree and FLOW we are proactively putting measures in place to alleviate the results of the drought situation in KZN. Our children are faced with a shortage of both food and water – the impact is dire and far reaching. The reality is, if it doesn’t rain soon, the situation will drastically deteriorate – our help is needed now,” says Paula Barnard, national director of World Vision SA.

Through the FLOW campaign for example, World Vision is through its established infrastructures and systems effectively bringing relief such as: