Attachments
A. SITUATION ANALYSIS
Description of the crisis
Following the onset of El-Niño in October 2023, the situation in Tanzania has escalated into a humanitarian crisis. In Hanang District, Manyara Region, intense rainfall triggered mudslides on December 3, causing a torrent of rocks, logs, and a substantial volume of water to cascade from Mount Hanang towards Katesh township. The last incident report by the government under the Department of Disaster Management within the Office of the Prime Minister was issued on 14 December 2023, and shows at least 89 fatalities, with 139 individuals sustaining injuries (15 requiring hospitalization).
Initial assessments revealed that 5,600 people were directly affected by the disaster, particularly in Hanang district. Furthermore, the relentless rains and resulting floods wreaked havoc on 750 acres of diverse crops and claimed the lives of numerous livestock. The consequences extended beyond agriculture, disrupting and destroying crucial infrastructure such as roads, water points, electricity, and communication systems. Health and education services also suffered setbacks, and the overall environment was severely damaged. Concurrently, during the Hanang flood and mudslides incident, other regions including Kagera, Kigoma, Arusha, and Tanga reported instances of mild flooding.
In response to the floods and landslides, the Tanzania Red Cross Society (TRCS), in collaboration with the affected districts and humanitarian agencies, conducted assessments to gauge the extent of the damage and identify the pressing needs of the displaced populations. TRCS has been working closely with the national government, particularly through the Prime Minister's Office-Disaster Management Department, to validate the findings of these assessments informing the operational update of this plan.
TRCS has commenced humanitarian recovery efforts to address the urgent requirements of those affected, encompassing the provision of shelter, healthcare, food, water sanitation, and hygiene. Search and rescue operations were strategically positioned in high-risk areas. According to weather forecasts, the rains are anticipated to persist until March 2024, necessitating an extended duration for humanitarian operations, coupled with the imperative to aid early recovery initiatives post-rainfall.
The crisis intensifies nationwide, with devastating consequences extending beyond the initially identified high-risk zones. The initially prepositioned resources have been exhausted, and demands are continually escalating. In response to the escalating situation, an imminent DREF was issued on 23 November 2023 and subsequently, an Emergency Appeal was launched in December 2023, focusing on four regions which are Dar es Salaam, Unguja-Zanzibar, Manyara, and Geita, and an Operations Strategy was published in January 2024. The appeal urgently addresses the pressing issues caused by escalating floods in these specific areas. However, it's crucial to note that several regions, including Morogoro, Mwanza, Dodoma, Kigoma, Tanga, Shinyanga, Simiyu, and Mbeya, are grappling with similar challenges but are not covered by this appeal.