Tanzania Red Cross
acting deputy secretary general Bertha Mlay (R) receives from TiGO
official Woinde Shisael food and other items donated by the mobile phone service provider to flood victims.
People shelter in mosques, schools and churches.
At
least 20,000 people in Dar es Salaam have been affected by the floods
following the heavy rains, the Red Cross Society has said.The floods have claimed the lives of at least 25 people in the
city and seven more in Morogoro Region.
The number of families or people affected by the floods in Morogoro is yet to be established.
Speaking during a news conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Acting General Secretary for Red Cross Tanzania, Bertha Mlay, said over 2,000 families comprising 20,000 people have been displaced.
She said the people have sought refuge in different places including 10 centres set up in mosques, schools and churches.
She was speaking when receiving 20.7m/- cash and foodstuffs – beans, maize flour and cooking oil - worth 4m/- from telecommunication firm, Tigo.
According Mlay, Red Cross has visited the affected areas and witnessed the havoc wreaked by the floods.
She said they also visited the 10 centres and provided assistance to the victims.
“We laud Tigo for the donation meant for the flood victims that lack foods and shelter. Most of the victims are taking refuge in mosques, churches and schools,” noted Mlay.
Head of Community Relations for Tigo, Woinde Shisael, said the firm decided to offer cash and food to the victims as part of its corporate social responsibility.
Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) has cautioned residents of high risk areas and ocean users of heavy rains in the next 24 hours.
TMA’s statement released yesterday said the rains will affect Unguja and Pemba Islands, Tanga, Dar es Salaam, and Coast regions.
It said the ground is still wet due to ongoing rains, insisting that even small rains can lead to high damage.
It also urged disaster management authorities to prepare for any kind of rain related tragedy.
“The rainfall will be above 50mm, it will last for 24hours on Thursday and Friday,” said the statement in part.
According to the agency, the downpour is a result of Inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) associated with enhanced moisture and atmospheric easterly waves.
Meanwhile the number of people who died due to floods has reached 32 after more bodies were recovered yesterday from Kihonda River in Morogoro.
The initial number of deaths in Morgoro region was five including two children who were found in Kilosa and Kilombero districts.
Acting Head of Investigation Department, Jamal Ibrahimu confirmed the incident.
“We were tipped by wananchi of two bodies floating in Kihonda River. They are preserved at the Morogoro regional hospital”, said Ibrahim.
For his part, Dar es Salaam Special Zone Commander, Suleiman Kova told a news conference yesterday that the death toll for Dar es Salaam region has reached 25 from 19 reported by Wednesday this week.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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