FLASH floods that hit Tinde ward in Binga South last week caused widespread destruction along the Simbala River, displacing nine families, destroying homes and devastating crops.
Local authorities responded swiftly, providing emergency shelter, food and other relief to affected families.
Binga South legislator, Fanuel Cumanzala, praised the Civil Protection Unit and the district development co-ordinator for their prompt action, but stressed that the disaster highlights the urgent need for a dedicated emergency fund.
“Funds will ensure that resources are readily available for prompt intervention whenever an emergency arises,” he said.
“Without a specific fund, authorities may face bureaucratic delays in deploying necessary resources,” the lawmaker said, stressing the importance of having resources available for swift action.”
Cumanzala noted that the floods have left families vulnerable, particularly in terms of food security and shelter.
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“Many families are now without proper housing and their primary source of livelihood, agriculture, has been severely impacted,” he said.
Cumanzala said the floods washed away crops and the damage to infrastructure would take time to repair.
He urged the government to take immediate action, not only to help those affected by the current crisis but also to ensure that future disasters are met with a more effective response.
Cumanzala suggested that one of the first steps should be the creation of a ring-fenced emergency fund, which guarantees that resources are allocated specifically for disaster situations.
He said this would allow local authorities to mobilise resources without delay and act swiftly to prevent further harm to affected communities.
“In a call for long-term improvements, we also highlighted the vulnerability of communities living along riverbanks and in other disaster-prone areas,” he said.
Cumanzala said the impact of climate change had made such areas increasingly susceptible to extreme weather events, including floods and droughts.
“The disaster in Binga South underscores the need for better preparedness at the district and community levels,” he said.
He called on the government to take immediate action to support affected families and to implement measures that improve future disaster preparedness. He also highlighted the vulnerability of communities living along riverbanks, especially in light of increasingly extreme weather events linked to climate change.
The lawmaker said that immediate steps included the provision of temporary shelter and food aid for the displaced families, as well as the restoration of damaged infrastructure.
“These efforts should be supplemented by a strategic review of disaster response systems, which could be improved to handle such crises more effectively in the future,” he said.
Cumanzala said as the situation continued to evolve, local authorities and relief teams remained vigilant, closely monitoring the recovery process and ensuring
that support is provided where needed.
The legislator’s call for a dedicated emergency fund remains at the forefront of discussions on how to improve disaster management in the region.