Disaster Risk Management staff – our heroes on the front line
27 May 2020
The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre is working around the clock to get services and donations to the City’s vulnerable communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. As winter approaches, the need for support will increase. Disaster Risk Management (DRM) stands ready to assist.
One of the key components of DRMC Community Outreach programmes is the loud hailing project where messages are communicated on how to minimise the risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus and what steps to take to safeguard yourself and your family. The loud hailing project started in March this year and will continue until 19 June 2020. This transversal approach with various City departments as well as DRMC volunteers is happening daily in informal settlements, specifically in the COVID-19 hotspot areas. At the start of the programme in March, DRMC staff handed out 8 000 soap bars to residents living in informal settlements.
‘The loud hailing project not only increases the awareness around safety, personal and community hygiene during COVID-19, but it also gathers important information of where residents might be needing assistance with services from the City. Outreach programmes are also tokens of compassion and hope. The presence of frontline staff working with the community in reaching out to the vulnerable groups is important in showing that we all have a responsibility to care and support one another during this difficult time’ said the Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
Another important component in the response to those in need is donations. This is where DRMC plays an important facilitating and coordinating role as they assist in linking services, donations, and support to community organisations that care for vulnerable groups. Since the call for donations went out, the DRMC received donations from Peninsula Beverages, Checkers , Pick n Pay , Agriforum, Uber Technologies, Axsys Projects, Livingstone Fellowship, CRC Church, Distell, Love knows no Bounds, Old Mutual , Design Indaba, BMW Club, Nestle and Girls with Wings, among others.
The DRMC is also working closely with the Woodstock Brewery and the District 6 Working Committee in identifying, vetting and coordinating the allocation of soup donations to communities in need. The soup donation programme which started on 6 May 2020, has a capacity of 2 400 litres of soup able to feed 7 000 residents on a daily basis. DRMC volunteers collect the soup daily at 11:00 and deliver it to drop-off points where various communities and NGOs can collect soup for distribution.
Since 29 April 2020, the Sea Point Rotary Club has donated 500 loaves of bread each day to organisations that have been identified by councillors and the Rotary Club.
A donation drive involving the Albany Bread Company allowed the DRMC to support 44 organisations with 34 000 loaves of bread.
Yesterday, the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce in Cape Town donated 100 hand sanitisers, 10 000 surgical masks and 10 thermometers to the City. The handover was done by Director General from Taipei, David Yintso Lin.
DRMC volunteers, including many members from accredited Neighbourhood Watches who joined the volunteer ranks since the start of the national lockdown, have increased the Centre’s capacity to get important messages, services and donations to communities across the metropole.
With the move to Level 3 of the lockdown on 1 June 2020, the Disaster Risk Management Centre will place a special emphasis on hot spot areas, while also continuing to provide support to Old Age Homes, organisations caring for persons with disabilities and shelters with donations received, such as soap and hand sanitisers.
‘Assisting vulnerable communities during COVID-19 would not have been possible without the many donations received from so many organisations and individuals. It shows commitment to a common cause during this crisis – working together for the good of our communities. Little acts of kindness and caring go a long way, and I thank everyone who has come on board already during this time. I also encourage anyone else who is in a position to assist, to please reach out to our Disaster Risk Management Centre,’ added Alderman Smith.
Members of the public can channel donations or enquiries via the following email address: Disaster.Donations@capetown.gov.za
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
