A fire has devastated Khayelitsha, leaving 145 people without homes. The blaze ripped through the Silvertown informal settlement, destroying dozens of shacks.

A fire in Khayelitsha

The humanitarian aid organisation Gift of the Givers says it will help out in the Silvertown informal settlement over the next few days after a fire razed several shacks at the weekend. Spokesperson Ali Sablay says their staff members were also very busy last week, providing aid to communities, again in Khayelitsha, in Kosovo, and in Samora Machel Informal Settlements. Dozens of homes were destroyed, and numerous people were displaced by those blazes.

Sablay added, “Our teams are working closely with community leaders, local authorities, and disaster management stakeholders to ensure the most vulnerable members of our society receive timely and effective support.”

Gift of the Givers delivers aid to fire-affected victims

Sablay says they’ve been making Emergency Aid available. This includes hot meals, bottled water, food parcels, blankets, hygiene supplies and building materials. He says their staff members distribute these items to the affected residents. Sablay added that this is part of their ongoing disaster relief efforts.

Relief efforts across the Province

There was also another fire in the Southern Cape. Gift of the Givers staff members are also helping out in Thembalethu in George. Multiple structures were razed. More emergency relief was dispatched.

READ MORE: A Winter Spike in Fires

He says Gift of the Givers remains committed to restoring dignity and providing hope to those affected by disaster.