DAR ES SALAAM, Jan 3 (IPS) – As dust gathered on the busy streets of Kariakoo, Halima Abdallah’s voice trembled through the cracks of a collapsed four-story building. “help! “I can’t get any air.” She was trapped under the rubble and gasping for breath. For four hours, rescuers struggled to find her. Lacking proper equipment, their efforts relied on tools hastily borrowed from private companies. By the time they reached her it was too late. Abdallah has died.
Just before the building collapsed, single mother Husna Faime was humming quietly inside her tailor shop, finishing a customer’s order. After a few minutes, her harmony was literally shattered.
“I felt the ground shaking, and before I knew it, everything was falling apart.” She said this from her hospital bed a week later: Trapped in the rubble and with her phone battery running out, she sent a heartbreaking text to her sister: “If I can’t bear it, please take care of Aisha. “Please tell mom that she loves him.”
Local volunteers dug through the rubble with their bare hands and managed to rescue Faime several hours later. Her survival was miraculous, but her ordeal revealed a grim truth. This means that both natural and man-made disasters regularly strike unprepared communities in Tanzania, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
perfect storm
Tanzania, home to over 62 million people, faces numerous hazards including floods, droughts, cyclones and earthquakes. Added to this are man-made disasters such as road accidents, industrial accidents, and building collapses. For the 34% of Tanzanians living below the poverty line, the financial burden of recovery is overwhelming.
In Cariaku, a bustling hub of markets and skyscrapers, danger lurks behind concrete walls. Systematic corruption and shoddy workmanship have turned many buildings into potential death traps. Investigations have shown that dishonest developers, in collusion with corrupt officials, routinely use substandard materials, ignore safety regulations and bypass inspections to save money.
Over the past decade, at least five major building collapses have been reported in Dar es Salaam, claiming many lives. Kariakoo in particular emerged as the center of such tragedies. Experts warn that many other buildings in the area remain structurally unsound, putting lives at constant risk.
lack of preparation
Tanzania’s vulnerability is further exacerbated by poor disaster preparedness and infrastructure. Rapid urban expansion, informal settlements, and inadequate drainage systems expose communities to climate-induced disasters.
“Our cities are not built to absorb the impact of natural disasters,” said Pius Yanda, a climate change adaptation expert at the University of Dar es Salaam. Informal settlements are particularly vulnerable, with little or no infrastructure to mitigate flooding or other hazards.
Man-made disasters are equally worrisome. Weak enforcement of building codes has made building collapses tragically common. “The warning signs are always there,” said Peter Kazimoto, a disaster risk reduction specialist at the Tanzania Red Cross. “Developers prioritize saving money over safety and enforcement is weak.”
Rural areas face their own challenges. In eastern Morogoro region, flooding destroyed maize crops, Ahmed Selemani’s only source of income. “We heard warnings on the radio, but no one came to evacuate us,” Ahmed said. “Now we have nothing.”
institutional gap
Tanzania has a disaster response framework called the Tanzania Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (TEPRP), but its implementation remains weak. Agencies such as the Department of Disaster Management (DMD) operate with limited budgets, meeting only 35% of their funding needs in 2023.
“We have made some progress on our early warning system,” said Jim Yonazi, an official in the Prime Minister’s Office. “But we need more resources to effectively mitigate risk.”
Limited government intervention has left many Tanzanians taking matters into their own hands. In Tandale, a sprawling slum in Dar es Salaam, residents like John Mnyamasi have built rudimentary flood defenses using sandbags and canals. “We cannot wait for the government,” Mnyamasi said.
Local volunteers are often the first responders during a building collapse. Kariakoo resident Emmanuel Joseph said 12 people trapped in the rubble had been rescued. “When you hear someone crying for help, you just act. “You have to do it even if it means risking your life,” he said.
The Path to Resilience
Experts emphasize the need for disaster risk reduction to protect Tanzanians. “Disaster risk reduction is not just about emergencies, it’s about prevention,” said James Mbatia, a former member of parliament and disaster risk expert.
Investments in early warning systems, stronger infrastructure and public awareness campaigns are critical. For example, in neighboring Kenya, mobile apps are being used to provide real-time weather updates, allowing for faster evacuation. “Empowering communities with tools and knowledge can save lives,” said Mbatia.
Critics argue that the Tanzanian government should take greater responsibility for disaster management failures. “It’s like holding a bucket of water that has never been used and watching the fire spread,” Mbatia said, referring to predictable disasters such as annual floods in low-lying areas.
Gordian Kazaura, an urban planning expert at Ardhi University, highlighted the human cost. “The poorest suffer the most. “Resources for recovery are lacking, and government responses are often too late,” he said.
a glimmer of hope
Despite these challenges, momentum for change is growing. Organizations such as the Tanzanian Red Cross are training volunteers and advocating for better early warning systems. We are providing emergency planning skills to local authorities through workshops.
“Disasters are inherently local,” Kazimoto said. “It is important to empower communities and local councils to act quickly rather than waiting for direction from central government.”
The recovery of survivors like Faime is uncertain, but hope persists. “We need help, but we also need change,” she said. “People like me can’t keep starting over.”
Halimah Abdallah’s final plea should serve as a wake-up call. Tanzania must move from reactive to proactive to ensure that no cry for help goes unanswered. Observers agree that now is the time to act before the next disaster strikes.
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