On 18th February 2023, the beautiful and well-loved Eastern Cape village of Coffee Bay and surrounding areas suffered severe and devastating floods.
Local NGO Sustainable Coffee Bay are managing the Coffee Bay Relief Fund and distributing critical support directly to the affected families. They need more supplies which they would like to distribute this week.
Please share this page and consider helping by donating to the Coffee Bay Relief Fund: https://sustainablecoffeebay.org.za/home/donate-please/ (Debit/ credit cards and PayPal accepted. Please choose Custom Amount (US$) and add ‘CB Relief Fund’ into the comments to ensure it goes directly to flood relief .)
“Thousands of families were left stranded and cut off from essential services as most roads and bridges have been damaged or swept away. The death toll of people killed in the recent floods … has increased to 18 — mostly young children — while three others, including a two-year-old child, are still missing…18-year-old Andiswa Mazwi, is one of eight people confirmed to have died — and whose bodies have been recovered.”
https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2023-02-28-coffee-bay-floods-man-tells-how-he-survived-by-grabbing-tree/
In the small village of Coffee Bay (Rhini), six people died, and one child is still unaccounted for.
Over two weeks since the disaster, there is still no running water, children are without education as schools have been destroyed and access to remaining schools inaccessible. Support from government has been limited.
Many of the families made homeless are relying on family, friends and neighbours, and are still in urgent need of basic needs such as blankets and food. The area already experiences high rates of poverty; for people that already have so little, the loss is truly devastating.
We hope to keep you updated but of course the NGOs and local businesses are overwhelmed with the emergency. The area also experiences lack of electricity and internet access, affecting relief efforts further and resulting in lack of communications and news. Please help us ensure this community that many of us have visited and loved, get some help and are not forgotten during their time of need. Please share or donate to the Coffee Bay Relief Fund if you can: https://sustainablecoffeebay.org.za/home/donate-please/
Please get in touch if you would like more information: happydays@sustainablecoffeebay.org.za
Due to limited comms here in Coffee Bay, you can also contact/ copy in our overseas Coffee Bay campaigners:
Katie: katie.coffeebay@gmail.com
Kate: office@aartvark.co.uk
Enkosi Kakhulu. / Thank you.
