State of Disaster: South Africans Affected by Floods Receive Help

Seven of South Africa's nine provinces have been impacted by floods as a consequence of La Nina, an atmospheric and oceanic phenomenon in the Pacific.

The country's government declared a national state of disaster to facilitate the mitigation of the consequences of the floods in Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, the Northern Cape, and North West, with Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape affected the most.

"The national disaster management center has received reports ranging from flooded homes, vehicles swept away by floodwaters and overflowing dams and sewerage facilities, to the loss of basic infrastructure and damage to roads, bridges and a Limpopo hospital," presidency spokesman Vincent Magwenya said.

The government's decision helped coordinate the emergency response involving the police service and the defense force. South African NGOs also provide extensive support to those who suffer the ordeal.

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Members of local NGOs unload food parcels from a South African Defence Force (SADF) helicopter in Mekemeke village, by Mhlambanyatsi River, after the floods which severely affected several municipalities in Mpumalanga, on February 16, 2023.

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Mekemeke villagers, by Mhlambanyatsi River, sit as they learn how to purify water with chlorine to prevent cholera outbreaks in Mpumalanga on February 16, 2023.

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A general view of the Komati river is pictured after the floods which affected Nkomazi municipality, province of Mpumalanga, on February 15, 2023.

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A South African Defence Force (SADF) officer (L) and members of local NGOs sit in an SADF helicopter as they deliver food parcels to people in Mpumalanga on February 16, 2023.

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A woman (C/L) with her new born baby (L) crosses a collapsed bridge on Mhlambanyatsi river after the floods which severely affected Nkomazi municipality, in Mpumalanga on February 16, 2023.

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A woman and members of local NGOs show villagers of Mekemeke, by Mhlambanyatsi river, how to purify water with chlorine to prevent cholera outbreaks in Mpumalanga on February 16, 2023.

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A woman holds her food parcel provided by a South African NGO in Mekemeke village by Mhlambanyatsi river in Mpumalanga on February 16, 2023.

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South African Defence Force (SADF) officers and members of South African Police Service (SAPS) belonging to the K9 Unit created for search and rescue in land/water environment stand in front of an SADF helicopter directed to Mekemeke village by Mhlambanyatsi river, province of Mpumalanga, on February 16, 2023.

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Drinking water and food are seen in the emergency headquarter of a South African NGO helping people affected in Nkomazi municipality, Mpumalanga, on February 15, 2023.

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A woman crosses a collapsed bridge on the Muzindi river after the floods which severely affected Nkomazi municipality, in Mpumalanga, on February 15, 2023.

State of Disaster: Flood-Affected South Africans Receive Help