EIC Media Desk - Lins O'Connor
Emmanuel International is helping the church in Pawaga, Tanzania, to assist victims of the floods which occurred in February 2016. The pastor and elders of the local Anglican church worked with the village leaders in Itunundu ward to identify 63 households who were in need of food aid. These families’ food supplies were destroyed when flood waters washed away this season’s crop of rice as well as the small reserves they had left from last season.
Thanks to donations already given to this appeal, a truck carrying approximately 2 tons of maize flour, 400 kilos of beans as well as cooking oil, sugar and salt was delivered to the church. A team of church elders distributed the supplies to the 63 families who had previously been identified. Pastor Alpha Kwanga explained that the church recognized its role to help people with needs in the community, and through God’s worldwide family they were able to provide this small gift of love to these families.
One of the victims who received food supplies was the mother of Amina, a baby girl who was miraculously born on a termite mound while her family awaited rescue from the flood waters. Amina and her mother were eventually rescued by helicopter. We thank God that baby Amina, now one month old, is doing well, but her family is currently homeless. As well as the food package EI was able to provide the family with a mattress to sleep on.
Earlier in March EI also helped the church to provide for flood victims in nearby Kisanga village where 100 families lost their homes. Those families are staying in temporary shelters until they can rebuild their homes. Now that the flooding has subsided many of the families are trying to plant rice again, however it may be too late as the rain is now abating and the rice paddies are already drying out.
The other problem exacerbated by the flooding has been an outbreak of cholera which has already claimed several lives. EI will be conducting training on cholera for the church and community in Pawaga using the ‘Story of Cholera’ video and other resources provided by UNICEF.
What caused the floods?
The people of the Pawaga area grow rice in paddy fields which are irrigated from the Little Ruaha and Great Ruaha rivers. Many people either live permanently by the rice paddies or stay temporarily in mud houses at the edge of the paddies during the main growing season of January to April, taking their families and belongings with them.
From early in the morning on the 12th February, following extremely heavy rains in both the West and the South of Pawaga in a very short period of time, the unprecedented volume of water burst the banks at the confluence of the two rivers and people awoke to find water rising rapidly engulfing their homes. People scrambled to the only high ground available – termite mounds, whilst others climbed trees to escape the water. It is fortunate that the flood occurred in the daytime and not during the night, or else many would not have made it to dry ground. The people watched as their homes, possessions and food got washed away and their crops were destroyed.
Response to the emergency
The government responded quickly and a boat was brought in from the Mtera reservoir, about 70km away. The police helicopter was also brought in from Dar es Salaam to assist with the rescue operation. Over three days the helicopter dropped food supplies and identified stranded people who were picked up in the boat, whilst others were accompanied to safety wading through the water after it started to subside.
Areas affected
EI has been working in Pawaga with the fuel efficient stoves project since 2011. Simon Mpogola, chairman of the Itunundu/Kimande stoves group and also evangelist of the Anglican church was among the victims. He and his family were stranded on a termite mound for two days until the emergency services helped them to safety.
The two villages affected were Itundundu and Kisanga. In Kisanga, a whole sub-village of 100 homes was destroyed by the flooding. The 452 people affected have been relocated to another area, where the families are living in a camp of temporary shelters and makeshift dormitories provided by the government.
The situation in Itunundu is more complex as the area affected is much larger. Some have lost homes whilst others have lost possessions and have no food. Although many people were rescued by boat, others didn’t want to be rescued as they were concerned about theft of their remaining possessions. Others were concerned that they would be in trouble with the authorities as they were farming in a reservation area without permission. After initially providing accommodation and a distribution centre for the victims, the government is not able to continue to provide help for these people so the role of the church is now even more vital.
Emmanuel International is helping the church in Pawaga, Tanzania, to assist victims of the floods which occurred in February 2016. The pastor and elders of the local Anglican church worked with the village leaders in Itunundu ward to identify 63 households who were in need of food aid. These families’ food supplies were destroyed when flood waters washed away this season’s crop of rice as well as the small reserves they had left from last season.
Thanks to donations already given to this appeal, a truck carrying approximately 2 tons of maize flour, 400 kilos of beans as well as cooking oil, sugar and salt was delivered to the church. A team of church elders distributed the supplies to the 63 families who had previously been identified. Pastor Alpha Kwanga explained that the church recognized its role to help people with needs in the community, and through God’s worldwide family they were able to provide this small gift of love to these families.
One of the victims who received food supplies was the mother of Amina, a baby girl who was miraculously born on a termite mound while her family awaited rescue from the flood waters. Amina and her mother were eventually rescued by helicopter. We thank God that baby Amina, now one month old, is doing well, but her family is currently homeless. As well as the food package EI was able to provide the family with a mattress to sleep on.
Earlier in March EI also helped the church to provide for flood victims in nearby Kisanga village where 100 families lost their homes. Those families are staying in temporary shelters until they can rebuild their homes. Now that the flooding has subsided many of the families are trying to plant rice again, however it may be too late as the rain is now abating and the rice paddies are already drying out.
The other problem exacerbated by the flooding has been an outbreak of cholera which has already claimed several lives. EI will be conducting training on cholera for the church and community in Pawaga using the ‘Story of Cholera’ video and other resources provided by UNICEF.
What caused the floods?
The people of the Pawaga area grow rice in paddy fields which are irrigated from the Little Ruaha and Great Ruaha rivers. Many people either live permanently by the rice paddies or stay temporarily in mud houses at the edge of the paddies during the main growing season of January to April, taking their families and belongings with them.
From early in the morning on the 12th February, following extremely heavy rains in both the West and the South of Pawaga in a very short period of time, the unprecedented volume of water burst the banks at the confluence of the two rivers and people awoke to find water rising rapidly engulfing their homes. People scrambled to the only high ground available – termite mounds, whilst others climbed trees to escape the water. It is fortunate that the flood occurred in the daytime and not during the night, or else many would not have made it to dry ground. The people watched as their homes, possessions and food got washed away and their crops were destroyed.
Response to the emergency
The government responded quickly and a boat was brought in from the Mtera reservoir, about 70km away. The police helicopter was also brought in from Dar es Salaam to assist with the rescue operation. Over three days the helicopter dropped food supplies and identified stranded people who were picked up in the boat, whilst others were accompanied to safety wading through the water after it started to subside.
Areas affected
EI has been working in Pawaga with the fuel efficient stoves project since 2011. Simon Mpogola, chairman of the Itunundu/Kimande stoves group and also evangelist of the Anglican church was among the victims. He and his family were stranded on a termite mound for two days until the emergency services helped them to safety.
The two villages affected were Itundundu and Kisanga. In Kisanga, a whole sub-village of 100 homes was destroyed by the flooding. The 452 people affected have been relocated to another area, where the families are living in a camp of temporary shelters and makeshift dormitories provided by the government.
The situation in Itunundu is more complex as the area affected is much larger. Some have lost homes whilst others have lost possessions and have no food. Although many people were rescued by boat, others didn’t want to be rescued as they were concerned about theft of their remaining possessions. Others were concerned that they would be in trouble with the authorities as they were farming in a reservation area without permission. After initially providing accommodation and a distribution centre for the victims, the government is not able to continue to provide help for these people so the role of the church is now even more vital.
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