The prolonged Eskom power outage in parts of the Central Karoo has created a widespread need for food relief. Eskom is working to restore power by Thursday but the Western Cape Government is doing everything it can to help Eskom move this date forward.
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With scorching temperatures and limited power in affected towns, many people have lost perishable food because they are unable to store products like meat and vegetables in refrigerators.
The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) has implemented emergency procurement procedures to ensure that the most vulnerable communities receive the assistance they require.
The department’s social workers and community development workers are conducting assessments to identify residents who are at a high risk of malnutrition or hunger. During the outage, these residents will be directed to a variety of sites for nutritional support.
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DSD has helped Community Nutritional Developmental Centres expand their capacity to serve more residents than they currently do.
The Department has also communicated with municipalities in the affected area to discuss distribution.
Yesterday, the department launched a food relief programme that is expected to benefit approximately 20,000 people. In the coming days, indigent households in various towns in the Central Karoo will receive assistance.
Sharna Fernandez, the Provincial Minister of Social Development, will visit the various locations where food relief efforts will take place.
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‘Thank you to the incredible DSD team that has worked around the clock to secure the necessary materials for the food relief programme, and to ensure that we do not miss anyone who is in dire need. I know that vulnerable residents, like the elderly and those living in poverty have had a challenging week, and I thank the municipalities for working so closely with us in our efforts to provide support,’ said Fernandez.
The Department has also allowed the three old age facilities in Prince Albert, Laingsburg, and Ladismith to purchase diesel for generators because their diesel supplies were running low.
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Picture: Juanita Swart /Unsplash