O 111307Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9207
INFO AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 
AMEMBASSY KIGALI 
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000017 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA, AA/AFR, DAA/AFR, AFR/EA, AND FFP/EA 
NAIROBI FOR OFDA SUREKA KHANDAGLE 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAID TZ
SUBJECT: DISASTER DECLARATION FOR TANZANIA FLOODS 
 
¶1. Summary: Much of Central and parts of Southwestern Tanzania are 
currently experiencing devastating floods following ongoing above 
normal heavy rains that have in some areas poured almost 
continuously since 24 December 2009. The Government of Tanzania 
(GoT) requested U.S. Government material and financial assistance to 
help provide urgently needed aid to hundreds of families of 
Tanzanians who have been affected as a result of the flooding. 
Following a review of available information, I have determined that 
all preconditions to declaring a disaster in Tanzania exists, i.e.: 
(a) given the limited resources at its disposition, the GoT needs 
assistance in responding adequately to the current crisis; (b) the 
GoT is actively seeking USG assistance; and (c) assisting the GoT to 
respond to this disaster is definitely in the interest of the U.S. 
Government and its efforts to foster and strengthen bilateral ties 
and reduce human suffering.  I therefore request that USAID/DCHA, 
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) authorize 
obligation of USD 50,000 to be used to fund a grant to the Tanzania 
Red Cross Society (TRCS) to provide immediate disaster relief 
assistance to those affected by the floods.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. The Disaster: Much of Central and parts of Southwestern Tanzania 
are currently experiencing devastating floods following ongoing 
above normal heavy rains that have in some areas poured almost 
continuously since 24 December 2009. There is immense destruction of 
infrastructure including roads and connecting bridges. Sections of 
the central railway line are impassable, hampering the country's 
transportation system. A significant number of wells which serve as 
major sources of water for family use have been flooded causing 
thousands of families to go without clean and safe water. 
Destruction of crops and pasture land was also noted in all the 
affected communities. Hundreds of displaced families have been put 
up in makeshift structures hardly sufficient to shield them from the 
weather's harsh elements especially the biting cold. Public 
buildings, mainly schools, have been converted to serve as 
evacuation centers for homeless families. 
 
¶3. To date, the areas hardest hit by the floods are located in the 
Central and Southwest parts of the country, specifically in Kilosa 
district, Morogoro region, about 300 kilometers west of Dar es 
Salaam and Dodoma region, Central Tanzania, about 600 kilometers 
west of Dar es Salaaam. As a consequence of heavy rains along the 
highlands of Mpwapwa and Kongwa districts in Dodoma region, river 
Mkondoa, which meanders into Kilosa district, overflowed resulting 
in unprecedented flash floods within the district headquarters and 
in the nearby villages. 
 
¶4. A rapid assessment conducted by TRCS local branches in the 
affected locations, in collaboration with the respective local 
disaster management committees, identified the following notable 
impacts of the floods: 
 
a. Kilosa/Morogoro Region: Communities in Kilosa urban and 26 
villages in 8 administrative wards have been affected: 
i. Total population affected: more than 25,000 
ii. Total Families whose houses are submerged in water: 5,605 
iii. Total number of houses submerged in water: 4,699 
iv. Total camps established by local government to accommodate the 
homeless families (mostly in schools): 23 
v. Total families in camps: 1,778 
vi. Total population in camps: 9,836 
b. Kongwa and Mpwapwa Districts/Dodoma Region: 
i. Over 200 families are homeless 
ii. 8 deaths reported 
iii. Over 300 houses partially or completely damaged 
iv. One Secondary school submerged 
v. Several water wells flooded 
vi. Roads and a bridge extensively damaged 
 
¶5. Initial Responses: Volunteers from the respective TRCS local 
branches were immediately deployed to assist in the search and 
rescue actions. TRCS volunteers also provided assistance and support 
in the re-location of victims. TRCS immediately delivered critical 
non-food items to victims, including blankets, mosquito nets, family 
tents, and first aid kits. TRCS, with support from their Regional 
Disaster Response Team, is currently carrying out a detailed 
assessment of the flood situation. 
 
¶6. UNICEF has provided TRCS with Tanzanian Shillings 5,650,000 (five 
million six hundred fifty thousand) to cover the costs of the 
initial transportation and delivery of relief supplies. Along with 
the cash amount, UNICEF also authorized the release of the following 
relief items to TRCS: 144,000 water purification tablets, 1,500 
plastic buckets, 5,000 bars of soap and 500 jerry cans. 
 
¶7. In addition to TRCS, the GoT is coordinating the search and 
rescue actions, organizing the relocation of victims, has 
established temporary shelter in public buildings/schools, and 
 
¶9. Another definite identified need will be housing supplies such as 
aluminum roofing sheets, cement, and bricks to help rebuild the 
nearly 6,000 destroyed or damaged homes. 
 
¶10. Proposed Use of OFDA Immediate Disaster Relief Funding: OFDA 
disaster relief funding will allow TRCS to provide immediate 
emergency assistance to those civilian families affected by the 
floods.  TRCS assistance will consist of non-food items, e.g., 
tents, blankets, mattresses and water purification 
chemicals/tablets. 
 
¶11. Conclusion: As Ambassador, I hereby declare that a disaster 
exists in Central and Southwestern Tanzania.  The disaster requires 
immediate attention and its magnitude exceeds the capacity of the 
GoT to respond.  The GoT has welcomed USG assistance and it is in 
the interests of the USG to provide such assistance.  USAID/OFDA is 
therefore requested to provide a fund cite so that $50,000 in IDA 
funds can quickly be granted to TRCS to assist in this emergency. 
 
LENHARDT