kilosa victims of floods rised to 9,300

DAILY NEWS Reporters, 3rd January 2010

AT least 9,338 people have been rendered homeless since floods started hitting Kilosa District, Morogoro Region, about a week ago.

Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Issa Machibya, said today the number had increased from 8,008 recorded four days ago and that all homeless people have been accommodated in 15 camps in the district.

He also noted that until yesterday, 4,819 households with 23,073 had been affected with floods, while 813 houses were damaged and 4,536 submerged in water.

Kilosa District Executive Director (DED), Ephraim Kalimwendo, said the district was in need of 600 tents to accommodated displaced people ahead of opening of schools this week.

"We have 76 out of 700 tents required to shift the victims from schools and we've planned to open to set up new nine camps," he said.

He named the areas anticipated for setting up the camps with their numbers in bracket as Kimamba A and B (1), Chanzulu (1), Kondoa (1), Magelegele Ward in Tindiga (1), Magelegele (1) and in Town area (4).

The DED observed that over 225,305 tonnes of food were needed to feed the flood victims.

Mr Kalimwendo appealed to different authorities to donate tents, drugs, food and other humanitarian supplies.

"The district also faces other challenges such as sharp increase in living costs, the floods has pushed costs of living significantly. Even costs of loading and offloading of humanitarian supplies are increasing everyday," explained the DED.

Mr Kalimwendo noted that the district was planning to develop temporary infrastructure, including toilets and construction of underground water systems.

The reason behind using the underground water was a way of cutting down cost, as water drawn from well does not need treatment, he said.

The DED also said that Kilosa District Council intended to survey 1,000 plots for Kondoa villagers and other flood hit wards.

The victims are currently camping at Usagala, Kimamba A and B, Magomeni, Kasiki primary schools. Others are at SIDO offices, Mkatani, Mazulia godown, Masanze primary court, Tindiga and Kilosa Club.