SANZAF responds to disasters such as fires and floods in order to support those worst affected by these conditions. The relief aid includes food, clothing and blankets, and in some cases building materials to reconstruct dwellings. Additional support services include conventional as well as spiritual counselling for loss in such cases.

Emergency Relief

SANZAF, on behalf of its contributors to emergency / disaster relief aid, responded to international, national as well as local appeal for humanitarian assistance.

From Turkey and Kosova in Europe to the Northwest and Mpumalanga Provinces in South Africa, Muslims and non-Muslims, all victims of natural disasters were treated equally.
 
International Disaster Relief Aid

Turkey Earthquake Relief:

A devastating earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale ripped through the Northwestern, Marmara region of Turkey on 17 August 1999. It plunged the Turkish nation into the bowels of despair and grief and left 35,000 people dead or unaccounted for. Over 150,000 people were injured and 450,000 left homeless and destitute.
 
On 12 October 1999, two representatives of SANZAF left Cape Town for Turkey to hand over R117,677.00 to the Welfare Department of the MUSIAD, and also to participate in its relief programme. The money was collected by SANZAF and the International Business Forum (Cape).
 
On 15 October 1999, at a meeting in Istanbul, they handed over 50% of the monies. The balance was handed over on 18 October 1999. Official receipts were issued by the chairman, Ahmet Isguzar of the Welfare Department of Sakarya.

National Disaster Relief Aid
 
Northern Province and Mpumalanga Flood Disaster Relief

In March 2000 a grim picture of destruction and despair emerged when flood waters ravaged the Northern Province and Mpumalanga.
 
At least 150 people died in the Northern Province and more than 42,000 dwellings were destroyed by the floods resulting in 100 000 persons being left homeless.
 
Mpumalanga, having just recovered from the 1996 floods, suffered yet another setback estimated at R2 billion according to officials. Infrastructure, public facilities, essential services and agricultural produce were affected with devastating results including the loss of human lives.
 
SANZAF representatives visited the disaster areas and handed over R25,000.00 to each Disaster Management Fund of the respective provinces.

Cape Town Tornado Disaster Relief

The morning of Sunday, 29 August 1999, was not soon be forgotten by residents of Cape Town. A freak storm left 5,000 people homeless, 177 injured and 5 dead. Winds of up to 148 km/h ripped rooftops off and flattened homes in Manenberg, Surrey Estate and Guguletu. City officials described the high winds as a Tornado.
 
SANZAF workers went into the area shortly after the winds subsided to assess the situation and to render necessary services. People were seen carrying injured family members out of damaged homes, while some residents were scaling unstable buildings to salvage what was left of their belongings,  thieves also took advantage of the situation and the army had to be deployed to assist the police in stopping the looters. Still they were not successful in many cases.
 
SANZAF established an emergency office on the premises of Silverstream Primary School and in the ensuing weeks it received tremendous assistance from the school teachers and volunteers from the area. They helped to identify people who lived in the disaster area, as many who were not victims of the disaster, capitalized on the availability of relief assistance. A list from the Cape Town City Council, with the details of the residents affected by the Tornado proved to be extremely helpful.
 
A well organized and co-ordinated effort ensured that SANZAF was able to distribute food, clothing and blankets to the value of R325,000.00, in addition to R99,211.29 for repair operations, hire of cabins and toiletry packs. Sadly, the situation has not improved for many of the victims and they are still dependent on assistance from SANZAF from time to time.
 
Cape Flats Flood Relief Assistance

SANZAF had become directly involved in assisting the victims of the worst rains to hit Cape Town in over 40 years, the effects of which are still being felt today. While the full extent of the damage has not been conclusively determined, it is clear that many residents of informal settlements, where homes were completely flooded will have to be moved to dryer grounds or rebuild their homes. In the meantime, many victims are being sheltered at community halls across the city.
 
SANZAF has provided emergency relief aid in many of the affected areas. This included donating over R150,000 worth of blankets and food and sending a convoy of seven vehicles and two 10 ton trucks as well as a busload of 40 staff and volunteers to assist the victims.
 
Distribution was coordinated in consultation with community leaders and counselors from the affected areas but SANZAF also responded to an appeal by the Salvation Army by contributing over 380 kg of meat and bread, which was used to prepare meals for victims of the flood.
 
In all cases, SANZAF representatives were well received and in some instances assisted directly in relief operations. They were also included in the decision-making process relating to what steps to take and what forms of assistance needs to be rendered.
 
SANZAF takes this opportunity to thank all its volunteers and donors for their gesture of kindness and concern for humanity.
 
The above are examples of how SANZAF responded to calls for humanitarian assistance. Similar initiatives and assistance was also afforded, most notably the Mozambique Flood Disaster in February/March 2000 and recently the xenophia crisis in the Western Cape in 2008.