EMERGENCY RESPONSE AMONG DROUGHT AFFECTED COMMUNITY– TANZANIA The uneven distribution and short lasting rainfall in 2010/2011 cropping season adversely affected crop production and livestock development in many parts of Tanzania especially in the Northern regions which include, Arusha. Manyara, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza and Shinyanga and partly in the Central and  Southern regions of Dodoma, Lindi and Mtwara which were expected to have continuous rainfall beginning from October 2010 to December 2010. Tanzania like any other East African countries has been affected by La Nina induced drought  and increasing food prices in the region leading to lack of access to food due to poor harvest and loss of livestock. According to the report from the Tanzanian Meteorological Department, indicated that   most of regions did not receive rainfall for two consecutive seasons (short rains in October 2010 and long rains in March- June 2011.

Although farmers were fully prepared their farms and planted as normal during the two rains seasons, inadequate or poor distribution of rains resulted in wilting of crops.  Maize as staple food in Tanzania withered before flowering.  Food prices in Tanzania are all time highest, most commodities have increased by 75% while that of maize price has increased by 144%.

The livestock in the area is also threatened by drought and a large number of cattle have already perished and others are reported to be in weak condition. Massive destruction of grazing areas and lack of water sources have been affecting cattle population substantially.

Clean and safe water at household level have been major threat to public health where’s apart from the water sources being far from the water users they are not reliable. Caritas Tanzania being one of the key service providers in the region at times of emergency situation called upon the Dioceses to conduct needs assessment in an effort to prioritize the dire needs in the ground. 

Caritas Tanzania sees the importance of this intervention and coordinated the needs assessment at diocesan level and have considered dioceses’ findings valid for assistance with food as well as promotion of sustainable food security through risk reduction strategies.Having the list for all districts that have food insufficiency, Caritas Tanzania has selected two districts which have not been fully attended by the government but remain as acute food insecure districts. These districts are Ngorongoro in Arusha, and  Karatu in  Mbuludioceses. 
This proposed project intends to reach about 7,229 beneficiaries (appx. 1445 house holds) out of 741,942 who have been recently identified as food insecure population. For successful response, this intervention seek to raise about GBP  100,000 which will enable Caritas Tanzania to procure and distribute 173.4MT of white maize 17.4 MT of cooking oil and 23.1MT of beans as food ration which will be used to create/rehabilitate community infrastructures like feeder roads, watersheds and other risk reduction structures.

The dioceses will use existing staff structure to implement this programme and provisions have been made to the cost allocation of staff and other support systems required for the successful completetion of the project at both national and diocesan levels.