A community event in Scenery Park has highlighted unemployment, poverty, and a lack of access to land as the driving forces behind the continued erection of shacks in areas prone to floods and other disasters.
The gathering, held to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, aimed to strengthen ties between communities and disaster response agencies. The Eastern Cape, and the Buffalo Flats area of East London in particular, has repeatedly suffered from devastating floods, causing extensive damage, loss of life, and displacement.
In response, aid organization Gift of the Givers has been a consistent provider of relief to victims. A spokesperson for the organization emphasized the critical role of education and community engagement in mitigating disaster impact.
“With some community education and community involvement and engagement, many of these disasters can be prevented,” the Gift of the Givers spokesperson said. He pointed to simple measures, such as keeping canals and drains clear of blockages caused by dumped rubbish, tires, and bedding, which are a major cause of flooding in areas like Duncan Village. The organization is working with municipal and provincial disaster teams and is actively involving school children in educational projects to promote these practices.
However, the underlying issue of where people live remains a critical challenge. A spokesperson for the Buffalo City Metro identified rural-urban migration as a key factor leading to the mushrooming of informal settlements.
“Because there is not much land, people end up building houses in places that are going to be affected by flood. That’s the first challenge that we have,” the municipal spokesperson said. The second challenge, the spokesperson noted, is educating residents on fire safety, especially during the festive season when the use of stoves for cooking meat increases the risk of shack fires.
Echoing the officials, residents living in these informal settlements confirmed that economic hardship leaves them with no alternative. A shack dweller at the event explained the difficult choice faced by many.
“We are aware of the dangers of staying in informal settlements… But the problem is that we are from rural areas where opportunities are scarce and this place is convenient to us,” he said. “We’re staying here because we have no choice. No one would leave a warm home and choose to stay in a shack… But we have to put food on the table for our children.”
As the cycle of disaster and displacement continues, Gift of the Givers says it is working closely with all disaster management teams and communities across municipalities to spread the message of preparedness and resilience.