Over 80 left destitute as winds destroy many households, properties

Nearly 80 people in Hai District, Kilimanjaro Region, are in need of humanitarian aid after their houses were destroyed by strong winds that were accompanied by heavy rains.

 

Kambi ya Nyuki Village is one of the villages in Bondeni Ward which have been affected by a strong storm that unroofed residential houses as well as destroyed 16 households as well as properties in the district.  

 

The downpour hit the area on Sunday evening for nearly one hour, causing widespread damage to people’s property in the area and forcing many of them to seek asylum from their neighbours.

Regional Commissioner Said Meck Sadick (pictured) visited the affected village and consoled victims. The victims asked the office of the RC to assist them to get food and other humanitarian requirements.

 

Masama Division officer Nsajigwa Ndagile said one of the Kambi ya Nyuki villagers Judika Munisi (55), was injured after his house was hit and unroofed by the storm, adding that the victim was currently nursing his wounds at Boma Ng’ombe District Hospital. 

 

Nsajigwa said the government would do anything possible to assist the victims in the affected area. He also urged people in the district to plant as many trees as possible in areas surrounding their homes to reduce the occurrence of such an event in future.

Village chairman Marko Urassa said that on the fateful day strong winds hit the area and were followed by downpours which caused panic to people living in the area.

 

“The disaster has left people with nothing and that is why we’re appealing to Hai District Council to take immediate measures to assist the victims,” the civic leader said.

 

 On Monday, the government started assessing the magnitude of the disaster after leaders visited the affected area.

 

Hai is one of the seven districts of the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the south and west by the Arusha Region, to the west by the Siha District, to the north by Kenya, and to the east by the Moshi Rural District and Rombo District.

 

The western part of Mount Kilimanjaro is located in the Hai District. According to the 2012 census, the population of Hai District was 210,533.