Attachments
Description of the Event
What happened, where and when?
The short rains of October to December 2023 commenced mid-October and have been characterized with localized flooding events across regions and have been managed at branch level. From 11 November 2023, the flooding increased causing deaths and damage to major infrastructure in Dar Es Salaam, Kigoma, Kagera, Geita and Unguja. The magnitude of this flooding tipped over into a national HQ led and resourced response hence the NS are requesting a DREF.
Scope and Scale
The latest update received from local government, shared on 13 November, reported more than 10,090 people, or 2,018 households suffered floods and landslide are affected with 12 deaths reported, 1,245 houses completely destroyed, and 1,074 latrines collapsed. The figures are likely to increase given the difficult access to most of the affected areas due to water levels. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75yBxSew01M. People in these affected areas have been evacuated to earlier mapped out safer areas. However, they have limited access to basic services.
The floods being witnessed across the affected regions, destroys not only houses but also are threatening livelihoods of the affected families. So far, the floods have washed away crops considering majority of the displaced populations are farmers, businessman, and pastoralist. This has resulted to serious threat to these communities’ livelihoods. The floods have caused major damage to local infrastructure, livelihoods and personal properties. Schools, roads and bridges have been destroyed including 2,202 acres of farmland.
Some of the areas are only accessible by boat and there are places with no communication.
The areas affected are prone to waterborne and communicable diseases and due to contaminated water sources and limited access to basic services for evacuees, there is an increased risk of waterborne disease outbreak risk.
At this point, the Tanzania Red Cross Society (TRCS) is fully relying on local government sources for its data. Together with the Disaster management Department of the Prime minister’s Office (DMD-PMO), TRCS through its local branches in the affected regions, are conducting assessments, supporting evacuations and search and rescue activities.
This being the start of the rain season and with prediction of enhanced rainfall, the events of flooding are expected to increase.
According to Tanzania Meteorogical Authority the current situation is above normal rainfall season (El Nino https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR7rsZBhPHE) and more heavy rainfall with locally very heavy rainfall is forecast.