The Zambia Red Cross Society(ZRCS) in Kasempa has
appealed to government to channel some of its resources to the society in an effort
to provide humanitarian support to some of the affected areas in the country.
ZRCS Public Relations Manager James Zulu said in an interview that the society is
waiting for government to declare certain places as disaster areas.
Mr. Zulu noted that the society is in a predicament as it has received a lot of
disaster reports about floods in various places in the country.
“It becomes difficult for us to move in affected areas before the government
declares the place a disaster,” he said.
He said reports that have been received include Kasempa district saying the area
would only be considered once government recognizes it as a disaster district.
Meanwhile more than 100 houses have collapsed in Kasempa and more than 14, 000
people are reported to be displaced.
Kasempa District Social Welfare Officer Kameko said the floods have posed damage to
crops in the district.
He described the extent of floods as unhealthy adding that it would cause serious
economic effects to people.
Mr. Kameko said most of the affected people are those involved in monoculture, poor
budgeting of food, child headed homes and women who are unable to acquire adequate
farming input.
He has since appealed to government send relief food to enable people go back to
normal life.
He said the floods have caused internal displacements and increased the cost of a 5
liter tin of maize from K2,500 to K3,500 due to shortages of food supply.
