LOUIS TRICHARDT - Hundreds of families in eleven villages in the Vhembe District of Limpopo, will have a difficult time this year, following a devastating storm that damaged their homes a week before Christmas.

According to Mr Lalumbe Tshidumbu of Disaster Management in the region, the storm hit the homes on the nights of Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Tshidumbu said more than 700 families in different areas of Thulamela and Makhado Municipalities were affected. Thulamela has the highest number of affected families.

More than five hundred families are affected in this municipality.

The affected areas are Tshifhefhe B, Josepha, Matiyane, Mhinga Vile, Mhinga Zone 3, Tshaulu, Gaba, Buluni, Ha-Rabali, Ha-Makhitha and Thohoyandou areas. Tshidumbu said because of extended families living together in the same place, there are more than 7 000 people who are left homeless, because of this storm.

The Vhembe District Municipality has delivered more than sixty tents and many more are still needed. Tshidumbu, meaning storm, said they were intending to approach the provincial administration, so that they can help them with the provision of tents.

"We have no shortage of food parcels. The district has distributed more than 200 packages that include 25kg bag of mealie-meal, fish oil and other consumable items. We can still get more food parcels from the welfare department, if there is a need," said Tshidumbu.

Tshidumbu said a similar storm attacks Tshaulu village every year. He said they do not know the cause of the storm.

Nthambeleni Gabara reports from Madombidzha that all the storm victims within the Makhado Municipality received food parcels donated by the "Minister of Blankets" Cllr Amie Chhaya on December 19 and 20. The food parcels were handed over by the Mayor of the Makhado Municipality, Cllr BM Tlakula.

This follows after heavy rains struck and damaged houses at Madombidzha, Tshiozwi, Ramukhuba, Majosi, Ravele and Gogobole villages. In addition, the Tshilwavhusiku Magistrate's Office was also destroyed by the storm. In the meantime, the Tshilwavhusiku Magisterial Offices are operating at the Ravele Community Hall. In helping the victims, the Municipality has supplied those left homeless with temporary tents and blankets.

In his statement the Municipality's PRO remarks that a full report would be submitted to the Department of Health and Welfare as well as to the Department of Local Government and Housing as to supply the victims with disaster Houses. "We urge community members to help one another and our condolences and sympathy go to all affected families.