When disaster strikes

Take hundreds of shacks made of wood and cardboard, within touching distance of each other ... the naked flame from a candle, open fire or paraffin stove ... and a gale force
South-Easter – and it's not surprising that runaway fires are a perennial hazard
in the settlements in and around Cape Town.

It's not unusual for 180 or even more shacks to burn down before help can arrive and the fire is brought under control. People already living in poverty and hardship lose the few possessions they own, leaving them utterly destitute.

Apart from losing their shelter, beds, clothing, food and household items, important documents such as birth and marriage certificates, drivers' licences and ID documents are sometimes destroyed.

Our Crisis Relief programme operates as part of the City of Cape Town's Disaster Management structure – and is often called upon to respond to the needs of township people whose homes have burned down or been swept away by floods. Depending on the need, we provide:

• pots of food or soup;
• plastic sheeting and other building materials;
• blankets and clothing;
• household items and toiletries;
• counselling and bureaucratic assistance.