Tanzania unveils $275 million plan ahead of El Nino rains

Tanzania is stepping up preparations for heavy El Nino rains expected from late September into early October, with the government setting aside $275 million for emergency measures.

The funds will support risk mapping, drainage works, resource mobilisation, disease prevention and other measures aimed at reducing the impact of flooding and other weather-related emergencies.

The Tanzania Meteorological Authority has warned of above-normal rainfall in the Lake Victoria Basin and coastal areas, including Dar es Salaam.

The warning has raised concerns among residents still recovering from the 2024 El Nino floods, which killed at least 155 people across Tanzania. In Dar es Salaam, all five districts were affected, with homes and infrastructure damaged by flooding.

Residents in flood-prone areas say they remain concerned about their safety and property as the new rainy season approaches.

Veronica Makwita, a Dar es Salaam resident whose home was affected by the previous floods, says she may have to leave her house if conditions worsen.

The government has directed road agencies to identify areas vulnerable to flooding, improve drainage and monitor high-risk roads to maintain access during the rains.

Authorities are also urging people living in flood-prone areas to assess the risks and consider moving to higher ground or safer locations before the rains intensify.

(With input from the wires)