Tanzania: Heavy Rains and Flooding Flash Update No. 2, 12 December 2023

HIGHLIGHTS

• The death toll due to flooding and mudslides has risen to at least 88 people, with at least 139 injured and 5,600 people affected, according to the Tanzania government officials on 11 December.

• Rains and mudslides have contaminated most of the open water sources in the affected areas, risking an outbreak of communicable diseases.

• The Government, supported by humanitarian organizations, including UN agencies and NGOs, continue to provide and mobilise food and nonfood items for the response.

• The President of Tanzania has urged communities living in flood-prone areas and other at-risk locations to relocate to safer areas to mitigate or reduce the impact of disasters.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

The death toll from heavy rains causing floods and mudslides in Hanang District has risen to at least 88 people with the figures expected to rise in the days ahead as search and rescue operations by the Tanzania Fire brigade continue with support from Tanzania Red Cross Society, as of 11 December. At least 5,600 people were affected, 139 injured and 750 acres of various crops destroyed. There is a risk of an outbreak of communicable diseases particularly in the three established displacement camps (currently hosting 237 people) due to overcrowding and interactions among the affected people (most of the displaced people are living with relatives). In addition, rains and mudslides have contaminated most of the water sources in the affected areas, according to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) Africa.

The crisis has traumatized some people, including families and children in Hanang District. The President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan on 7 December visited the displacement camps to assess the impact of flooding. She also visited Hanang District to assess the destruction caused by the floods and mudslides.

COORDINATION AND RESPONSE

Government-led search, rescue and recovery operations are ongoing. The Government has also designated displacement sites for the relocation of the affected communities. Meanwhile, the deployment of a joint UN and Government rapid assessment team to assess the humanitarian needs of affected populations is underway.
The Government, supported by humanitarian organizations continue to provide food and non-food items (NFIs) to the affected people. Similarly, the United Nations agencies have mobilized additional supplies which will be delivered to the affected people through the Disaster Management Department. These include, food mobilized by World Food Programme (WFP); pre-positioning of cholera rapid kits and pool tester by the World Health Organization (WHO) to mitigate communicable diseases; UNICEF, within a few days of the disaster, contributed assorted relief items worth $60,500 towards promoting access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services including distribution of hygiene kits, soap, plastic water tanks, water purification tabs, personal protective equipment (gloves, coveralls, rain boots) and communications materials to prevent the spread of diseases and support WASH. Additional NFI supplies worth $12,020 were also released following the Government's request and reached Hanang on 7 December. UNICEF has collaborated with the Ministry of Health to implement disease prevention awareness, taking into account gender and diversity, while also providing technical support to a team of social welfare officers and mental health coordinators to respond to psycho-social needs and to provide recreation kits to support the affected children and population. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is planning on distributing dignity kits to support women and girls. Meanwhile, the President has called on the Government officials to establish food reserves to feed disaster-affected people before the central government and other development partners, start providing support.

Save the Children International (SCI) is providing mental and emotional well-being support through prioritized coordination with Mental Health and Psychosocial Services stakeholders and has deployed integrated teams across key wards, training of community health workers in basic emotional support, and creating safe spaces for healing and resilience and scaling up innovative strategies to efficiently reunite families and continue supporting their well-being. SCI child protection initiatives include Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS) rooms, equipped with play materials, and staffed by trained community health workers, are now available in each camp and allocation of playgrounds for volleyball and football, providing opportunities for recreation and healthy development. World Vision Tanzania has supplied food items (beans and cooking oil), WASH (Buckets and Liquid Soap) and items for Child Friendly Spaces worthy US$ 15,400.

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) especially in the displacement sites, remains a key concern. The President asked the Ministry of Water to promptly restore all damaged water supply facilities while the Ministry of Health is continuously monitoring conditions in the displacement camps to lessen the risks of disease outbreaks. The President has also urged communities in flood-prone areas and other at-risk locations to relocate to safer areas to reduce the impact of flooding. Regional authorities were encouraged by the President’s call to strengthen disaster readiness and capability in reacting to and recovering from disasters with the President urging the regions to stock up on food reserves in case of a natural disaster

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