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Tanzania

Tanzania: Floods DREF Bulletin No. 1


The Federation’s mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world’s largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 183 countries.
In Brief

This DREF Bulletin is being issued based on the situation described below reflecting the information available at this time. CHF 73,000 has been allocated from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to enable the Tanzania Red Cross National Society(1) to respond to the needs in this operation. This operation is expected to be implemented over 6 months, and will be completed by the end of November 2006; a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

This operation is aligned with the International Federation's Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".

Global Agenda Goals:

- Reduce the number of deaths, injuries and impacts from disasters.

- Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies.

- Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability.

- Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity.

Background and current situation

Floods, reported on 15 May 2006, have left at least 19,000 people homeless and submerged 998 houses in the northern Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania following a heavy downpour. Some of the affected families are presently hosted by relati ves and neighbours while others have sought shelter in schools. By destroying at least 1,459 hectares of crops as well as harvested produce, the floods have introduced a new hardship to the residents of Moshi (near Mount Kilimanjaro) who are still experiencing food insecurity conditions.

The Moshi District commissioner reported that the floods swept away hundreds of livestock and led to the collapse of 11 homes. Floodwater also damaged water systems and filled pit latrines, thus increasing the threat of water contamination. The contamination of water sources presents a threat of waterborne disease outbreaks, such as cholera.

Red Cross and Red Crescent action

Prior to this disaster, the Tanzania Red Cross National Society (TRCNS)– with Federation support– had been e r sponding to the drought situation in th e country, including Kilimanjaro region, through the ongoing emergency drought response operation (Appeal no. MDRTZ001). The national society had allocated 22 metric tonnes(MT) of maize for Moshi District using fu nds providedb y the Federation (through DREF) to initiate activities of the drought Appeal. An additional 71 MT is expected for the region.

In response to the floods, the national societyw ill distribute 400 blankets and buckets (donated by the German Red Cross) and 15 bales of clothing (donated by the Finnish Red Cross) from its warehouse to respond to the immediate needs. In addition, the regional delegationi n Nairobi has made available non-fo od items from its regional disaster preparedness stock.

The Moshi branch of the Tanzania Red Cross National Society is assessing the impacted areas in coordination with the government and other actors. Theg overnment has sent food and non-fo od itemsas well as tents to the region. It has also requested for beans and cooking oil from the World Food Programme (WFP) as well as clothes and blankets from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Caritas has committed 40 MT of maize while the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is also providing assistance.

The proposed operation

On 22 May 2005, CHF 73,000 was allocated to the TRCNS fromthe Federation’s Disaster Relief EmergencyF und (DREF). The allocation was facilitated by the regional delegation in Nairobi to enable the national society to r e spond to immediate needs. Under this operation, the TRCNS is ta rgeting to reach a total of 600 families (3,000 beneficiaries) in Moshi District with food, non-food as well as water and sanitation (WatSan) items . It will also provide building supplies for 11 households. The operation is e xpected to be completed within six months.

Goal: To alleviate the suffering of fa milies affected by flooding in Moshi District.

Objective 1 (Non-food items): To provide essential non-food items to a tota l of 600 households that have been badly affected by floods in Moshi District.

Expected results:

- 600 affected households have been provided with 1,800 blankets, 600 kitchen sets, 1,200 bed nets and 1,200 jerry cans.

- The general well-being of the affected families in their current localities has been restored.

Activities planned to meet the objective:

- Procure and transport non-food items to Moshi.

- Mobilize and deploy volunteers to distribute household items to the affected families.

Objective 2 (WatSan): To provide WatSani tems for 600 households affected by floods in Mosh i District.

Expected results:

- 600 affected households have been provided with 18,000 PUR sachets (household water treatment chemicals) and 1,200 bars of soap.

- An outbreak of waterborne diseases is prevented.

Activities planned to meet the objective:

- Procure and transport WatSan items to Moshi.

- Mobilize and deploy volunteers to distribute WatSan it ems to the affected families.

- Conduct a rapid assessment to determine what intervention is necessary to restore normal water and sanitation services.

- Provide health education.

Objective 3 (Reconstruction): To provide building supplies for 11 households whose houses were destroyed by floods in Moshi District.

Expected results:

- 11 affected households have been provided with essential building supplies (steel roofing sheets and cement) to reconstruct their houses.

Activities planned to meet the objective:

- Procure and transport building supplies to Moshi.

- Distribute building materials to the affected families.

Objective 4 (Distribution of food): To provide food items for 600 households affected by floods in Moshi District.

Expected results:

- 600 affected households have been providedwi th beans and oil for three months (rations of 3kg of beans per person per month and 0.8 kg of oil per person per month).

- The general well-being of the affected families in their current localities has been restored.

Activities planned to meet the objective:

- Procure and transport food items to Moshi.

- Mobilize and deploy volunteers to distribute food ite ms to the affected families.

Budget outline

The budget below outlines immediate needs to assist some 600 households (3,000 beneficiaries).

(A) Non-food items (NFI), WatSan and house rehabilitation
Amount (CHF)
NFI and Watsan items for 600 households
1,800 blankets, 600 kitchen sets, 1,200 bed nets, 1,200 jerry cans, 18,000 PUR
40,000
sachets, 1,200 bars of soap, health education
House rehabilitation (11 houses)
Materials - metal sheets and nails
2,000
Transportation from Nairobi and RD support
2,500
TRCNS distribution and administration
7,500
Sub-t otal A
52,000
PSR (6.5%)
3,380
Total A
55,380
(B) Food items
Beans and cooking oil for 3 months
13,500
Transport and distribution costs
3,000
Sub-to tal B
16,500
PSR (6.5%)
1,073
Total B
17,573
Grand Total
72,953


Map: Tanzania: Floods - Situation map

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

- In Tanzania: Adam Kimbisa, Secretary General, Tanzania Red Cross National Society, Dar-es-Salaam; Email: lo gistics@raha.com; Phone +255.22.21.50.330; Fax +255.22.25.11.47

- In Kenya: Esther Okwanga, Federation head of East Africa sub-regional office, Nairobi; Email: esther.okwanga@ifrc.org; Phone + 254.20.283.52.53; Fax + 254.20.271.27.77

- In Kenya: Anitta Underlin, Federation head of East Africa Regional Delegation, Nairobi; Email: anitta.underlin@ifrc.org; Phone +254.20.283.51.24; Fax +254.20.271.84.15

- In Kenya: Steve Penny, Disaster management coordinator, East Africa regional delegation, Nairobi; Email: steve.penny@ifrc.org; Phone +254.20.283.51.17; Fax +254.20.271.27.77

- In Geneva: Amna Al Ahmar, Federation regional officer for East Africa, Africa Dept.; Email: amna.alahmar@ifrc.org; Phone +41.22.7 30.44.27; Fax +41.22.733.03.95

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) in Disaster Reliefa nd is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.

For longer-term programmes in this or other countries or regions, please refer to the Federation’s Annual Appeal. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for national society profiles, please also access the Federation’s website at http://www.ifrc.org

Note:

(1) Tanzania Red Cross National Society- refer to http://www.ifrc.org/where/country/check.asp?countryid=189