Attachments
The IFRC Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) has approved a total of CHF 550,000 for the implementation of the Tanzania Red Cross Society Flood EAP. The approved amount consists of an allocation of CHF 356,740 for readiness and prepositioning and CHF 193,260 allocated to implement early actions once the defined triggers are met. Allocations are made from the Anticipatory Pillar of the DREF, under the DREF appeal code MDRTZ04. Unearmarked contributions to the DREF are encouraged to guarantee enough funding is available for the Early Action Protocols to be developed. Tanzania faces recurrent flooding, particularly during the main rainy seasons MAM and OND (Masika and Vuli), with high exposure in both urban and rural areas. These floods are caused by heavy rainfall, often worsened by inadequate drainage systems and settlement in floodprone zones. Floods frequently result in loss of life, displacement, disease outbreaks, and severe damage to shelter, infrastructure, and livelihoods. The most affected are vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and low-income households. The Early Action Protocol (EAP) for Floods in Tanzania was developed through a joint and participatory process led by the Prime Minister’s Office – Disaster Management Department (PMO-DMD), which serves as chair, and the Tanzania Red Cross Society (TRCS), as co-chair, alongside the Anticipatory Action Technical Working Group (TWG). This group includes government agencies, academic institutions, humanitarian actors, and community stakeholders. The protocol is informed by historical flood data, lessons from previous emergency responses, feasibility assessments, and alignment with national disaster risk management frameworks. The Tanzania Red Cross Society has developed the EAP to proactively address riverine flooding across nine identified river basins in Tanzania. It aims to assist 120,000 people by focusing on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), health, shelter, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), with the goal of reducing flood-related impacts. The EAP targets communities in flood-prone districts, particularly those with high vulnerability due to geographical exposure, socioeconomic status, and limited access to preparedness resources. The EAP is designed for activation ahead of severe flooding, based on a five-day impact-based weather forecast issued by the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA). The EAP is triggered when the following conditions are met: • A severe rainfall warning (orange) or major warning (red) is issued in over 10 administrative regions across more than three river basins, lasting at least two consecutive days. • At least one advisory-level warning (yellow) is present on any of the remaining days within the five-day forecast. The early actions outlined in the EAP are intended to reduce the most severe impacts of flooding, such as fatalities, injuries, disease outbreaks, displacement, and damage to homes and livelihoods. These actions include: • Dissemination of early warning messages to at-risk communities through various channels, including the use of trained community volunteers. • Community-level cleaning of drainage systems and trenches to reduce floodwater accumulation. • Pre-positioning and distribution of cleaning tools and materials. Figure 1:Distribution of flood events in Tanzania from 2000 to 2019. • Support for the evacuation of the most vulnerable individuals and advocacy for broader community evacuation; this includes the provision of Non-Food Items (NFIs) such as tents and essential household items. • Pre-positioning and distribution of WASH supplies, including water purification tablets, hygiene kits, handwashing materials, and jerry cans. • Activation of EPIC-trained volunteers for hygiene promotion and water treatment support at the community level. • Installation of handwashing facilities at evacuation sites and awareness-raising on WASH-related health risks. • Deployment of trained first aid teams to provide basic emergency care and injury response.