TANZANIA: Heavy rain in Tanzania: Caritas Tanzania TEC Reaches Out to Flood Victims
Sarah Pelaji
The heavy El Niño rains, accompanied by strong winds, floods, and landslides in various parts of the Tanzania, have caused significant damage in the different parts of Tanzania especially in the coastal region and Dar es Salaam City.
Giving a report to Tanzania’s parliament in Dodoma on the situation of rain in Tanzania since January, the Prime Minister of Tanzania Kasim Majaliwa Kasim said least 155 people have died in floods and 236 have been injured in Tanzania following heavy rains caused by El Niño.
Kassim Majaliwa warned that the rains might continue into May, and urged families to leave flood-prone areas.
About 200,000 people and more than 51,000 households were already affected by the disaster, he added.
The most affected area in the coast is Rufiji District where by the Rufiji District Commissioner, Major Edward Gowele, revealed the destruction of 58 houses and the displacement of 951 residents in Chumbi Ward alone.
Residents in 12 wards of Rufiji district are facing devastation after the controlled release of water from the overflowing Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam (JNHPP) caused widespread flooding.
Following that, The Catholic Church through the Caritas Tanzania at Tanzania Episcopal Conference TEC and Caritas Dar es Salaam Archdiocese has donated some humanitarian needs to flood victims in several villages located in Kibiti District, Coastal Region.
Some of the donated materials are 150 mattresses, 120 bed sheets, 100 mosquito nets, 125 blankets, clothes, shoes and domestic utensils.
The Auxiliary Bishop of Dar es Salaam Archdiocese Rt. Rev. Henry Mchamungu said that the call of Christian life is to love one another and respond to the need of all who are in need.
“Christ gave us the example of a good Samaritan of helping those who are weak. As Catholic Church, it is our call to respond to the needy of our people who have been affected by the floods in Kibiti and all places in Tanzania following increasing of rainfall in Tanzania.”
Caritas Tanzania and Caritas Dar es Salaam Archdiocese, behalf of the Church has shown the, generosity, solidarity and charity responding to the disaster that happened in Rufiji and Kibiti where many people have lost their homes and crops due to the Flood.
Bishop Mchamungu has called various people as well as private organizations, Church institutions and Government institutions to help the people of Kibiti affected by the disaster, while saying that already on the part of the Diocese of Dar es Salaam, the Church through the Bishops of the Diocese have asked the Priests to announce to the faithful to contribute to the victims of Kibiti for various aid so that later the aid can be sent to the needy.
“There are various kinds of disasters, including floods and landslides like the ones that happened in Mbeya, Moshi, Arusha, Morogoro and Hanang. We should help them with material and financial aid,” he said.
The director of Caritas Tanzania TEC Ms. Marshal Mpokonya on her part has said that Caritas Tanzania and Caritas of Dar es Salaam Archdiocese when participating in providing various aid to the victims of the Kibiti floods is part of fulfilling the mission and Caritas which has a responsibility to reach out the community to empower them to bring economic development and help them when they are hit by various disasters.
