The Tanzania Red Cross Society (TRCS) has prepared a Sh3 billion budget estimate for effectively handling the early effects of El Nino rains should they start pounding the country.
Its director of disaster management and logistics, Mr Joseph Kimaryo, said his office was well prepared to face the situation, although it had not got enough money for the disaster.
”Our office has no money but we always estimate the magnitude of the problem and from there we draw a rough budget that guides us to get funding from our main sponsors and Red Cross regional headquarters in Nairobi,” Mr Kimaryo told in an interview.
He said they always report to the World Red Cross Society which responds in 24 to 72 hours for assistance.
He pointed to recent bomb blasts in Mbagala, Dar es Salaam, when they received tents and other important materials within 24 hours of appeal.
However, the director noted that TRCS was also expecting support from UNICEF. He said they expect to sign a contract that will enable the organization offer assistance to TRCS during the disaster period.
He said: ”We are expecting to sign a contract with UNICEF next month, the contract will help us to get enough money to face disaster problems, but I cannot tell more about that contract because it is not yet signed,”
He says their Sh3 billion budget estimate was not a guarantee that the money would be available but the figure was estimation to carter for 200,000 up to 400,000 people who will need urgent help in the onset of the problem.
The TRCS’s disaster director said it was not compulsory to get money in cash and that sometimes the office receives materials instead of money.
According to Mr Kimaryo, TRCS has already stepped forward in preparing some materials that would be used during the disaster period such as blankets, tents, medicine and chemicals for treating drinking water.
He said TRCS has already prepared the list of the needed materials and that it will be sent to the headquarters in Nairobi.
Mr Kimaryo clarified that his office has the responsibility of setting the country plan that involve educating people on the coming problem, indicating the most expected affected areas and mobilization of rescue team to get ready for any possible disaster.
He said until now TRCS was spreading brochures to all parts of the country especially in the lake zone regions expected to be the worst affected.
According to Mr Kimaryo, TRCS was already mobilizing rescue teams, which comprise not less than 50 rescuers in all regions and that there were enough ambulance cars and emergency medicines to face the situation.
He added that his office worked very closely with the government and has started sensitising people who live in valleys to vacate to secure grounds.