INFOCUS NEWSLETTER - SPECIAL COVERAGE: UN response and support to KZN flood victims

The unprecedented disruptions caused by the floods led to increased hardships for children and families, including lack of basic needs and disruption of daily routines. To support government the UN launched a coordinated humanitarian response focusing on saving the lives of women and girls and young people, and upholding dignity and human rights with emphasis on sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV and GBV. The UN assisted with the distribution of food and non-food items to affected communities in vulnerable situations. The UN working with implementing partners also provided psychosocial support to the most vulnerable migrant families.

The UN also conducted a rapid geospatial analysis of the flood impacts on crops in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape from 10 to 20 April 2022. The assessment provided information from districts, local municipalities and wards in the areas of interest. The results were provided as maps by administrative units and in tables with descriptive statistics. With recent advances in geospatial and information technologies and updated land cover maps, crop-specific information adapted to national conditions with tailored field campaigns has the potential to better support response programmes and agricultural development. In addition, the UN support the province with the sexual and reproductive health essentials required by women and young girls displaced by the floods. The UN also mobilised national volunteers to support KZN in responding effectively to the disaster.