Lyn Frans
Two days of torrential downpour over the weekend washed away vehicles and brought down buildings in many parts of Dar Es salaam ,the nations’ bustling commercial city.
The heavy rainfall and overflowing rivers have led to widespread flooding, causing extensive damage .Homes have been submerged, roads , infrastructure and agricultural lands have all been destroyed , leaving residents in a devastative mood.
The country has for the past one week, been grappling with a severe flood disaster that has affected numerous regions across the country.
The impact has left many stranded as thousands of people have been displaced from their homes, and access to essential services such as clean water, healthcare, and education has been severely disrupted.
Although Local authorities and aid organizations have been working tirelessly to provide relief to those affected by the disaster ,the loss of properties and general havoc caused can never be replaced. Emergency shelters have been set up to accommodate displaced families, and efforts are underway to distribute food, water, and medical supplies to the most vulnerable communities. The scale of the disaster has strained resources, and there are concerns about the ability to meet the needs of all those affected
The flood disaster has also taken a heavy toll on agricultural livelihoods, with farmlands inundated and crops destroyed. This has raised fears of food shortages and heightened food insecurity in the affected areas. The long-term economic impact of the floods is likely to be significant, as communities struggle to recover and rebuild in the aftermath of the disaster.
As the situation continues to unfold, there is a pressing need for ongoing support and assistance for the affected areas. The government, aid organizations, and the international community are being called upon to rally together to provide the necessary resources and relief efforts to help Tanzania recover from this unprecedented flood disaster.
The resilience and determination of Tanzanians in the face of this crisis are evident, but the road to recovery will be long and arduous. It is imperative that concerted efforts are made to address the immediate needs of those impacted and to implement measures to enhance resilience to future natural disasters.
In December 2023 , at least 68 people were been killed in landslides and flooding triggered by heavy rainfall in northern Tanzania.
Images broadcast on television showed debris from houses, including furniture, strewn across streets, with key roads, power lines and communication networks disrupted.
In August 2023, the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) ,issued seasonal weather forecasts for expected rains (short rains) indicating that the rains in some regions will be accompanied by El Niño. On 13 November 2023, several regions were hit by floods, including Manyara, Dar es Salaam, Kagera, Geita, Arusha, Kigoma, and Unguja, resulting in 12 deaths.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Sunday asked citizens to take precautions by avoiding affected areas. She also called on the rescue authorities to make sure that the rains do not cause deaths.
The Government has further directed the mobilisation of national resources to respond, allowing the military to deploy. Besides fatalities, the floods and landslides caused massive infrastructure damage to houses, power lines, farmland and roads.
Severity of humanitarian conditions
The flooding is now being witnessed across five regions. Although the country has responded to floods previously, the current flooding and landslides are severe, with the highest recorded deaths and people rendered homeless so far – and the risk of expanded flooding is imminent, as per weather forecasts. The highest risk is still concentrated in Hanang district, surrounded by mountains already weakened by the current rains, which poses a risk of more landslides. The floods and landslides have equally caused major damage to local infrastructure, livelihoods, and personal properties. In four wards of Hanang district in Manyara, roads and bridges were completely cut off, limiting access only by air and paralyzing transport and humanitarian aid to the affected population by road. This also hampered people’s access to markets, hospitals, and other basic services. Water facilities have also been affected, including the destruction of pipelines and wells, resulting in affected populations having no access to water.
Impact on physical and mental well-being
At least nine health facilities have been affected, either by being flooded or rendered inaccessible, cutting off the affected populations from basic health services and forcing them to rely on medical outreach. Rescue operations are underway with the help of the military, as people are feared to be buried in thick mud, and the extent of the mudslides has made the retrieval of bodies and delivery of aid very challenging. Road access is limited; thus, air transport is being used in Hanang district, at least in the four affected wards. Tanzanian authorities are facing challenges in understanding the depth of the landslides in Manyara, how weak the mountain slopes have been rendered, and whether the rains will continue to increase.
Livelihoods have been severely affected, as most of the population depends on agriculture and livestock. This heightens the risk of increased food insecurity, in a country that has seen a spike in food insecurity and malnutrition in 2023 (over a 60% increase).
There are challenges related to less-equipped evacuation centres lacking appropriate basic water sanitation-hygiene (WASH) and sanitation facilities. Evacuees are waiting for a long time at evacuation centres to be reunited with their lost ones and struggling to get a proper meal. Staying at an evacuation centre without clarity on when the situation will normalise and facing uncertainty about where to bury your loved ones due to homes being washed away can have a profound psychological impact. There is a high likelihood of emotional distress and trauma among those who lose family members to drowning.
3 Risks & vulnerabilities
Examining the weather forecast, there is a likelihood of increased rainfall leading to more flooding and landslides across the country. There is a risk of people attempting to cross flooded roads to salvage their properties and rescue loved ones, resulting in more drownings and deaths. In the short-term, vulnerable groups include those who have been displaced and are cut-off due to the floods or damaged infrastructure.
In the mid-term, vulnerable groups include those who are displaced, have lost their homes and livelihood assets, and cannot return or struggle to initiate any form of self or supported recovery activities. Due to disruptions in water supplies, damage to sanitation, and living conditions, there is also a considerable risk related to waterborne diseases.
Tanzania has been plagued by heavy rain and flooding over the last few months, leaving more 68 dead , 1,750 houses destroyed and over 15,000 people displaced.
As the country grapples with the aftermath of this catastrophic flood disaster, the spirit of solidarity and compassion from both domestic and international partners will be crucial in supporting the country’s recovery efforts.
