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Zanzibar flood victims strive to start life afresh
2005-05-12 08:31:38
By Juma Thomas, Zanzibar
Life is slowly returning to normal in Jang'ombe, one of the suburbs in Zanzibar, which was hit by floods two weeks ago forcing its occupants to run for their lives.
Over 500 families were rendered homeless after their houses were submerged following a down pour, which pounded the island for two consecutive days from April 15.
Until early this week some of the houses in the flood hit areas were still in the water, though some people had started returning back.
Mzee Haji Musa Machano is one of the returnees.
He and his family had been putting up at a friend’s house ever since.
Although his house at Sebleni is still in the water, he says he has no alternative but to cope up with the situation as his friend cannot accommodate him anymore.
Most of the victims especially from Jang'ombe, Shaurimoyo, Miembeni, Nyerere Mtoni, Kwahani, Kikwajuni, Sebleni, Bububu, Kiboje and Magogoni, the badly hit areas, had to seek refuge elsewhere.
Scared by the ravaging flood water many fled leaving virtually everything behind.
It is only the lucky few who managed to rescue some items as most were caught unaware by the rain which initially looked like scattered showers.
Machano and the rest of the flood victims are now striving to start life afresh—thanks to the Tanzania Red Cross Society, which has come to their rescue.
With water still surrounding most of the houses, the victims need the assistance more than ever before to cope up with the aftermath of the floods.
Water sources have been contaminated and health officials fear that there might be an outbreak of cholera or other waterborne diseases.
The flood water is also making good breeding grounds for mosquitoes making it possible for the returnees to be affected with malaria.
Zanzibar, an island in the Indian Ocean, is one of the areas with high prevalence of malaria.
Malaria kills more than 100,000 people annually, 70 per cent of whom are children under five.
The disease accounts for about 20 per cent of all deaths in the country's hospital Worried by the situation the Red Cross last week distributed mosquito nets, kitchen sets, soaps, blankets, jerry cans, foam mattresses and aqua tablets to the victims.
Kibari Tawakal, the Red Cross Disaster Response Manager says the victims would be given the tablets three days a week after undergoing trainings on their use. The stock is expected to last for one month.
Red Cross also donated chlorine powder to the government for treating water in the reservoir tanks.
'Under this situation we anticipate many things.
These people might be exposed to either malaria or waterborne diseases,' he says.
More than 330 families, the most affected, were assisted to start new life.
'We are giving them the very basic needs so that they can return to normal life,' says Tawakal Safia Alhaj Muhidin lost almost everything.
She and her family were away when the floods hit.
'When I arrived it was too late as the house was already in the water.
It was horrible we sat helplessly watching water gradually submerging our house,' she says.
Holding a blanket, two bed nets, soaps, two jerry cans, a box of kitchen sets and some aqua tablets, Muhidin thanked Red Cross for the assistance.
The government helped them with food immediately after the floods and Muhidin said the Red Cross token will go on to assist them adjust to the new situation.
Most of the areas which were hit by the floods are squatter settlements which lack proper drainage system.
Tawakal challenged the authorities to put in place a good network for drainage to allow water to flow.
Solid waste management should also be taken into consideration in the government’s future plans if the floods are to be contained in these squatter settlements.
There was also lack of co ordination in the part of the Zanzibar government because it failed to call together other key actors for quick response to the victims' plight.
Tawakal said there was a need for the government to strengthen the co ordination among the key players in the disaster management in order to avoid giving the victims same relief assistance.
The government admitted the shortcomings and promised to find the lasting solutions.
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