Tanzania: Explosion - May 2009

GLIDE n=B0 OT-2011-000026-TZA

7 March, 2011

CHF 36,210 has been allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the National Society in delivering immediate assistance to 1,000 beneficiaries. Unearmarked funds to repay the DREF are encouraged.

Summary: On 16 February 2011 an explosion occurred at a government storage facility located at Gongo la Mboto Suburb on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam City. The explosion resulted in 27 deaths and approximately 500 persons were injured. An estimated 200 homes were either destroyed or severely damaged.

Geneva, 21 February 2011

1. Brief description of the emergency

On Wednesday 16th February 2011 there was a bomb blast accident at the Gongola Mboto Military base in Dar es Salaam Tanzania which lasted for 5 hours.

By Nancy Okwengo, Dar es Salaam

Explosions at a munitions store near Tanzania's commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, have left hundreds of children separated from their families as people fled their homes during the night. The Tanzanian Red Cross has set up tracing facilities and is reuniting children with their parents as thousands took refuge in the national stadium.

The blasts, which also forced the closure of the airport, killed 20 people, seriously injured over 200 and displaced over 5,000 people.

Office of the Spokesman

This report covers the period 01 January 2009 to 31 December 2009

In brief

Programme purpose: To enhance capacities of the 141 National Societies (NS) in East Africa region in responding to the humanitarian challenges.

- Disaster Management (DM) programme: To build well-prepared, stronger and more efficient NS able to predict, prevent and reduce risks and respond to emergencies, mitigate their impact as well as cope with their consequences in an appropriate manner.

- Health and Social Services (HSS) programme: To build and strengthen capacities of the NS in responding to public …

Period covered by this Final Report: 30 April to 24 August 2009

Appeal target: CHF 545,134 (USD 469,134 or EUR 362,697)

Appeal coverage: 42%;

Appeal history:

- This Emergency Appeal was initially launched on 22 May 2009 for 545,134 (USD 469,134 or EUR 362,697) for 3 months to assist 18,866 beneficiaries.

- CHF 100,535 was initially allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the National Society in responding by delivering assistance.

Summary: An explosion at an ammunitions store in Mbagala army base near Dar es Salaam occurred on …

This report covers the period 01/01/2009 to 30/06/2009

In brief

Programme purpose: The Red Cross societies of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda make up the membership of the East Africa Sub Zone. The five countries share borders and are members of the East Africa Community. These National Societies are all involved in a bilateral regional programme, "The Lake Victoria Programme," supported by the Swedish Red Cross.

JOHANNESBURG, 14 July 2009 (IRIN) - The growing number of accidental explosions in military arms and ammunition storage facilities across Africa has highlighted the need for minimum standards in stockpile management in the continent, says a South Africa-based think-tank.

"These ammunition stockpiles pose a significant threat and have enduring consequences in vulnerable and fragile societies, and as such need to be adequately managed and/or disposed of by making use of the correct mechanisms and best practice guidelines," the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) noted in the …

By Howard Lesser

Washington, DC, 26 May 2009 - The International Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal to care for more than 20,000 Tanzanians made homeless by last month's explosions at a military base near Dar es Salaam. IFRC spokesman for East Africa Andrei Engstrand-Neacsu says that international funds are needed for temporary shelter, sanitation, and medical security during the rainy season, and ultimately to help resettle the victims.

"What we need right now is about half a million dollars for the next three to six months.

This Emergency Appeal seeks CHF 545,134 (USD 469,134 or EUR 362,697) in cash, kind, or services to support the Tanzania Red Cross National Society to assist 18,866 beneficiaries for 3 months, and will be completed by the end of August 2009. A Final Report will be made available by 30 October 2009 (three months after the end of the operation).

CHF 100,535 (USD 86,519 or EUR 66,890) was allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support this operation.

Thousands of Tanzanians made homeless by explosions at a military base near Dar es Salaam three weeks ago are still living in a precarious state and need longer term assistance, says the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) as it launches an emergency appeal for 545,134 Swiss francs (US$ 469,134 US dollars/ EUR 362,697) in their favour.

"Some 20,000 people have lost their homes.

On May 6, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Larry André declared a disaster due to the effects of the April 29 accidental munitions explosion in Mbagala military base in Temeke. In response, the American people have provided $50,000 (TSH 65 million) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance to the Tanzanian Red Cross (TCRS) to support families affected by the explosion of munitions in Mbagala.

Mr.

The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross and Red Crescent response to emergencies.