South African authorities declared a national state of emergency as floods in the Eastern city of Durban have killed hundreds so far. The country also took on a damage control strategy and deployed military officials to aid those affected.

As the death toll stabilises at 443, the military kicked off “Operation Chariot”, which includes 10,000 troops of the South African military.

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The primary focus of the troops will reportedly be to conduct search and rescue operations and distribute essential resources to the victims. These include delivering food, water and clothing to flood victims 

Nearly 4,000 homes have been destroyed and more than 40,000 people displaced by the floods caused by prolonged heavy rains, provincial officials said Tuesday, according to reports from Associated Press.

More than 400 people remain missing and about 600 schools have been hit with damages estimated at about $28 million, according to officials.

Cyril Ramophosa, the President of South Africa, said in a statement, “Learning from the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are drawing together various stakeholders to be part of an oversight structure to ensure all funds disbursed to respond to this disaster are properly accounted for and that the state receives value for money.”

Ramaphosa’s remarks come after the widespread graft was uncovered by the state’s Special Investigating Unit in state funds that were supposed to help the nation respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to reports from Associated Press.

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Former Health Minister Zweli Mkhize resigned after the investigation found that businesses linked to his family benefited from inflated COVID-19 contracts from his department.

South Africa had been in a national state of disaster over COVID-19 since March 2020 until it was lifted two weeks ago, but it has now been reinstated in response to the Durban floods.