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Tanzania sends help to region as floods kill 42

Friday March 06 2015
flood

A resident of Mwakata village stands with her furniture close to what used to be her house, among 500 damaged by downpour in Kahama District, Shinyanga region in Tanzania March 5, 2014. PHOTO | SHIJA FELICIAN

The government Thursday sent emergency humanitarian relief supplies to over 900 flood victims in Kahama district, in Shinyanga region, northwest Tanzania, who were affected by Tuesday night’s storm that killed 42 people and left 91 others injured.

The government swung into action as the humanitarian crisis built up at Mwakata village, the epicentre of the deadly storm that saw more than 160 houses collapse, living families without shelter or food.

The storm, accompanied by strong winds and flash floods left a trail of destruction in Mwakata, Numbi and Mwaguguma villages. More than 100 families were camping at a local primary school that was closed to accommodate them.

At Kahama district hospital where the injured were admitted, only 36 patients were still admitted for treatment while the others were discharged after their conditions improved, said Kahama District Commissioner Mr Benson Mpesya.

Most families of those who had died collected the bodies of their kin for burial. Many of the deceased were quickly buried on Wednesday. The storm struck on Tuesday night as the villagers slept.

Prime minister Mr Mizengo Pinda cut-short an official engagement in Dar es Salaam and flew to Kahama to assess the situation and promised more government support to lessen the suffering.

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He toured the scene of death and destruction before visiting those admitted in hospital.

He promised them that the government through the National Service and Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) would construct houses for those affected.

He urged various people to continue volunteering donations of different materials to the affected families and directed the regional and district authorities to provide any necessary and immediate support.

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