Community-based disaster education is essential to all people 

Tanzania is one of the countries in the world that has experienced several disasters like cyclones, earthquakes, pest infestation, epidemics, fire, chemical incidents, roads, trains, and marine accidents, droughts and floods. 

Flood is one of the world’s deadliest natural hazards documented in human history. Others include earthquakes, cyclones, and tsunamis. Millions of people around the world have lost their lives due to disasters like floods, while others have left their homes. Likewise, disasters like floods have destroyed cities, people’s properties, the environment, and infrastructure like roads. 

Floods are a climate-induced disaster triggered by heavy rainfall. In Africa, floods can greatly affect vulnerable groups due to inappropriate measures that can help them respond effectively to disasters. Different groups in the society are affected by floods differently. For instance, women, children, elders, and the disabled are the most susceptible ones. 

Some areas (depending on their geographical locations) are more prone to floods than others. For instance, Tanzania's flood-prone regions include Tanga, Coast, Morogoro, Mbeya, Arusha and Dar es Salaam.

Read: Floods ravage Mbeya, Katavi, leaving trail of destruction

Dar es Salaam region, particularly Msimbazi River Valley, has been experiencing floods over years, which affect its residents and their properties, infrastructure, and the environment. Currently, there are floods in many parts of the country including Rufiji and Kibiti (Coast), Arusha, and Mbeya (Kyela). Floods cause economic setbacks for the people and the country as a whole. 

People are aware of floods occurrence every year, but the question is, to what extent or how best are we prepared for and respond to it? Note that when a disaster occurs, people should be prepared for it at all levels.

Read: Ravaged by Rain: Dar es Salaam floods wreak havoc, displacing residents and crippling Infrastructure

Disaster preparedness means “a set of measures undertaken in advance by governments, organisations, communities, or individuals to better respond and cope with the immediate aftermath of a disaster quickly, effectively and efficiently” so as to reduce loss of life and property.

Yes, our government has been doing its best in collaboration with other stakeholders such as Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to ensure that people's lives and their properties are protected, from the impacts of disasters. For example, the government has developed a policy (the National Disaster Management Policy of 2004 (reviewed 2024)), and legal frameworks that encourage sectors and agencies to implement measures for managing disaster risks, early warnings, and providing humanitarian services. The government also enacted the Disaster Management Act No. 6 of 2022, and developed the National Disaster Management Strategy (2022-2027).  

Despite all those initiatives, community education on disaster is crucial since many people seem unaware of disaster related issues. Thus, people will learn early disaster warning signs, the impacts of disasters, and how to prepare and respond to them effectively, strategically, and on time. That will strengthen disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response measures.

The knowledge and skills on life and property-saving actions will help them protect their own lives and those of others, as well as their properties and the environment. 

Creating a safer present and future generation requires integrating Disaster education into our curriculum from the early stages of education to the university level. Studies show that children, as one of the most vulnerable groups, are affected by disasters. Thus, imparting knowledge and skills to them about disasters will help them grow while understanding disaster preparedness and response. 

Once all students at all education levels acquire disaster knowledge and skills, it will consequently help promoting a safety culture, prepared with practical skills and knowledge that can raise awareness of risk and response against disaster across all education levels.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has emphasized that education is “a key factor in reducing disaster risk and thus it’s important in promoting a culture of resilience, building knowledge and skills for disaster risk reduction, and empowering communities to take action”. 

Dr. Saumu Jumanne is a Lecturer at Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE).