Emergency fund established in Swakop

A DEVASTATING fire in Swakopmund’s Mondesa suburb in May, in which nine houses and 34 shacks were razed led to the establishment of the Swakopmund Emergency Fund.

The fire left hundreds of people homeless and without food and belongings.The fund will enable Swakopmund residents and businesses to assist victims of tragedies such as fire. After the fire, residents and businesses in town were generous in their help, and it is believed that the fund will help control and streamline any future assistance to such victims.The Swakopmund Council also approved an annual contribution of N$50 000 toward the fund as from the next financial year.Rio Tinto’s Rössing Uranium, at the inception of the fund, already made a lump sum contribution of N$100 000, with smaller donations of another N$1 500.The Office of the Mayor announced that a policy will be drawn up soon as to what exactly entails an ’emergency’ to ensure legitimate and fair assistance via the fund.