Floods wreak havoc in Tanzania

Floods wreak havoc in Tanzania

Tanzania officials have said that at least 23 people have been killed in the worst floods to hit the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam in 50 years.

Dar es Salaam's regional commissioner told, Said Meck Sadick that "The tragedy has left at least 23 people dead and 4,909 displaced."

Damages

Businesses were forced to close and thousands were left homeless as the city became inundated with flood water.

"The last time Dar es Salaam recorded such heavy rains was in 1954," Agnes Kijazi, Tanzania Meteorology Agency director, said at a press conference after the downpour.

Relief measures

The Country Director of the UNDP, Philippe Poinsot, told UN radio that it was still too early to assess the extent of the needs of those affected.

 Poinsotsaid "We are in touch with the government and some other actors like the Red Cross ... We are helping to get a clear assessment of what may be needed.
"We probably need tents and blankets, some dry rations as immediate assistance, but the Tanzanian government is leading the relief effort at this point."

Tanzania's President, Jakaya Kikwete, visited several of the camps set up in the city to shelter the flood victims and urged those living in affected areas to leave their homes.

"Floods in these low lying areas have been recurring for years, the lasting solution is to vacate the flood prone areas," he said.

"It is high time that responsible authorities including city planners, mayors and councillors stopped issuing permits for developers to erect structures in such areas," Kikwete added.

Aljazeera/Adekusibe/Cokey