This update is produced by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) concerning its emergency response to earthquake in Kagera Region. Funded by the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund, CERF, IOM is carrying out relief activities in the NFI and temporary shelter sector. UNICEF is supporting access to safe and quality education and school water and sanitation facilities for schools affected by the earthquake in Kagera, as well as protecting children affected by the earthquake through psychosocial support.  IOM is working closely with the Tanzanian Red Cross Society as implementing partner, while UNICEF with Environmental Engineering and Pollution Control Organization, EEPCO. This update highlights progresses made as of March 08, 2017.

Background

  • Following the earthquake in Kagera Region, which occurred on 10 September 2016, over 117,700 people have lost their homes.
  • A UN assessment led by IOM was conducted from 20-22 September 2016, jointly with Government Representatives (from the Disaster Management Department of the Prime Minister’s Office, Regional Secretariat, District Municipal and Councils), UN agencies, a United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team, and NGOs.
  • Based on the findings of the assessment, IOM in collaboration with UNICEF developed a joint emergency response project which received funding from the Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) of the UN. The project has a life span of 9 months.
  • The planned project activities are carried out in 3 target districts of the Region, Bukoba Municipal, Bukoba Rural and Misenyi.

Highlight

  • According to the revised plan, IOM will support the distribution of 1200 NFI household kits, 1,250 shelter kits, targeting a total of 1,250 affected households, while UNICEF will support 10,000 households through household water treatment and safe storage.
  • The Tanzanian Red Cross Society is IOM’s Implementing Partner (IP) of this project, while UNICEF is working with the Environmental Engineering and Pollution Control Organization (EEPCO).
  • IOM in collaboration with Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) deployed an Emergency Response Project Coordinator whose duty station is in Bukoba. The project has also recruited program assistant to support coordination and monitoring efforts.
  • Based on the request of  IOM and Tanzanian Red Cross Society the regional and local authorities have provided lists of beneficiaries based on the given criteria for identifying most vulnerable households
  • The Implementing Partner, TRCS, mobilized volunteers from the affected communities and prepared 2 warehouses for storage of the kits.
  • The Implementing Partner, TRCS, conducted beneficiary verification for the distributions of both NFI and shelter kits.
  • IOM and UNICEF are consulting closely with regional and district authorities to coordinate the implementation of the project
  • To date, the procurement and transportation of 3090 mattresses, 6000 mosquito nets, 6000 blankets, 5,957 mats, 2,400 jerry cans, 2,400 IOM bags, and 3,400 buckets have been conducted. Regarding shelter kits, a total of 22,000 of the planned poles, 7,500 kgs of nails, 1000 ropes, and 7,500 tarps have been delivered.  The purchase of 15,000 corrugated iron sheets for roofing is underway. Moreover, 39 carpenters got training on how to lead the construction of the planned temporary shelters. Some 163 affected households in Bukoba Urban were also supported with debris removal, clearance of the sites for construction of temporary shelters.
  • The distributions of the stated NFI household kits to 1,200 households have been conducted during the first week of March, 2017 and distributions’ data entry and compilation is underway. The transportation of shelter materials to the sites will commence at the end of this week.
  • UNICEF is supporting the procurement of building materials and delivery to Mugeza Mseto Special Needs Primary School in Bukoba Municipal Council, which is catering for children with various types of disability. This was one of the worst affected schools.  The project involves repair and rebuilding of key buildings that were damaged (including the classrooms, dormitories, and the sick bay), as well as constructing latrines.

Next steps

Transportation and distribution of shelter materials and undertake construction of 1,250 temporary shelters.
Revisit distribution of NFI household kits. 

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