Bibi Ingi’s family survival journey during floods in Tanzania.

Bibi Ingi, a grandmother, found herself stranded, perched on a pile of bricks, the only safe haven left after devastating floods engulfed her home in Kibiti district, Pwani Region of Tanzania.

It all unfolded on the night of 25 April when the roar of heavy rains and thunder abruptly awakened Bibi Ingi from her sleep. With eyes half awake, she decided to use the outdoor toilet. As she swung her feet off the bed, she stepped into the cold floodwaters that had quietly infiltrated her humble mud-built house, already ankle-deep. Alarmed and in panic, Bibi Ingi woke up her three grandchildren and hurriedly went to find a safe place.

As the rains intensified, the village school, built on higher ground, was the only place Bibi Ingi could think of as they trotted in the darkness. When they arrived at the school, they were not alone. Most of her neighbours had already sought shelter there.

It was cold, and Bibi Ingi decided to leave her youngest granddaughter, Subira, with a neighbour who was also sheltering at the school, and rushed back home with her two grandchildren to salvage whatever else they could. The water was rising dangerously, but they managed to carry mattresses, clothes, and a few essentials before the waters became too challenging to navigate.

After a few days, Bibi Ingi and the families who sought shelter at the school were relocated to UNICEF-supported tents in a safer area, where they could receive humanitarian assistance.

Bibi Ingi's village is not the only community affected by the recent floods. Across the country, 18 regions were affected by floods and landslides. Sadly, the floods have claimed 155 lives, injured 236 people, and displaced over 200,000 others, including children. The most severely affected areas were in Pwani and Morogoro regions.

UNICEF, as the first responder, stepped in and provided non-food items to children and families affected by the floods.

"We distributed 2,000 mattresses, 2,090 blankets, 90 bed sheets, and seven tents with recreation kits. We also provided 19 water storage tanks, 3,000 buckets, over 1.2 million water purification tablets, 5,000 pieces of laundry soap, 80 chlorine drums, and hand sanitisers to ensure clean drinking water and hygiene," said Judith Bihondwa, UNICEF Emergency Specialist.

UNICEF engaged the media to create awareness and empower families to adopt healthy practices. Social welfare officers were deployed in the camps to offer essential mental health and psychosocial support, helping children and families cope with the situation.

Due to flooding, more than ten schools have closed in Kibiti and Rufiji districts, affecting over 1,900 school-going children. In the temporary shelters, UNICEF has provided education supplies including science kits, early childhood development (ECD) kits, and recreation kits to ensure learning continues. These child-friendly spaces offer a secure environment where children can learn, play, and be children.

"We're grateful to UNICEF for providing us with a place to stay, giving us clean water, and setting up a temporary school for children to continue learning," says Bibi Ingi, relieved. "My grandchildren are happier, playing with friends and enjoying learning. I don't know how long we’ll have to stay here, but for now we are safe,” she adds, her voice revealing a mix of hope and uncertainty.